That`s fun.
In contrast to the rather coarse and sturdy instruments of the common folk, hurdy-gurdies of 18th century French courtly society reached highest standards in workmanship and technique.
An excerpt from Marianne Bröckers book “Die Drehleier – Ihr Bau und ihre Geschichte” (“Hurdy-Gurdy – Crafting and History”):
"The best wood for the cover is mahogany, since it achieves an even tonal quality for the whole keyboard. For that reason many 18th century French instruments – which where used for playing a very different, much more virtuoso repertoire than the folk music instruments – have a body that is either all mahogany or at least a mahogany cover.”
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Crafting and equipment specifications: All
mahogany build. Cross-vaulted
instrument cover. Keyboard
and tuning pegs turned from mountain maple. Decoratively
embossed keybox lid, chien and peg head. Measure
35cm, tuning C / G , electively with one or two melody strings. Fine
tuner for the melody strings for a surcharge of €7,50. Two
drones in C and G, one relocatable trompette. All
surfaces lacquered with shellac. All
further technical features as listed on the hurdy-gurdy starting page.
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Note: Differents in color and grain are typical for wood!
Please remember: After March 2009 new prices.
One
melody string
Two melody strings
Some mistrels likes it colorful.
However, it plays wonderful.
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I
am pleased with the message from Dieter G. about his German Hurdy-gurdy: Hello
Jule, I’m
glad to hear from you! Your hurdy-gurdy is swell and how it plays… Everyone
hearing it or even playing on it is simply enthusiastic about it . Even
high-grade hurdy-gurdy players had a taste and agreed. Most
importantly, I like it. I’m practicing a lot and I can already play 5
pieces with Jürgen and Horst. You see – it works! By
now I have also replaced a melody string with an octave, that’s brill!
It’s a gut string wound with steel creating a soft and subtle tone, very
pleasant, and especially not as loud when practicing. It sounds wonderful
in company with the melody string. Yet one string costs € 30,- … I’ve had a nice wood case built, with soft padding so that my precious is nicely protected :) Dieter |
Email: hurdy-gurdy@saitenklang.de
February 2009
