Parallel Organum Demonstration

This is an improved version of the parallel organum hurdy gurdy technique that I experimented with a year ago from now, when I had just started playing the hurdy gurdy. This time, I play some more interesting tunes, and demonstrate some other effects that can be achieved by tuning that second chanterelle down a fourth.

By the way, I am not chewing gum — it seems that I move my jaw around when performing! How bizzare.

Audio was recorded through an Apogee ONE, with a little reverb added when I'm playing.

The tunes are Como Poden, a Cantiga de Santa Maria — I then play excerpts from one of my compositions, Electric Hedgerow. The last tune is Salterello 2.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hurdy
• gurdy
• medieval
• parallel
• organum
• alternate
• tuning
• como
• poden
• salterello

[WaterpigMaster]

Hi @christianb99 — this is a symphonie, which is an early version of the more modern instrument called the hurdy Gurdy. Really this is a modern instrument in a medieval case. They are indeed rather obscure!

[MoaiMaea]

Cool. Do you take requests?

[WaterpigMaster]

@MoaiMaea Go ahead ;) I'll give it my best shot!

[MoaiMaea]

Do you need a special sort of sheets or are piano ones enough?

[WaterpigMaster]

@MoaiMaea Piano sheet music should be alright, but due to limited range I may have to alter it slightly.

[Katrraya]

wow, sounds awesome *.*

[WaterpigMaster]

@DANinstruments Hi Daniel — I'll dig through my records and get the string codes for you in the next couple of day.

[DANinstruments]

@WaterpigMaster Hi again!!

Thanks for your prompt response! I really would appreciate if you could provide me with the string diameters you're using or even the Savarez string codes of them.

I'm using Sav. BRH 97 for the chanterelles and the trompete and Sav. BFC 570 for the drone bass. I bought them having in mind tuning the chanterelles in G but that didn't work well because their tension was tooo floppy for the octave i desired and too strong for the upper octave.... Thanks, daniel amador

[DANinstruments]

Hi again!

Thanks for your prompt reply!

I would very much apreciate if you could provide me with the diameters of the strings you're using. For the chantereles i'm using Savarez BRH 97 as for the trompette. For the drone bass i'm using Sav. BFC 570. My Hurdy has a 360mm scale and i tried to tune the chanterelles in G but the strings above simply got too much tension for a decent octave and, in the octave under that they would get too floppy... Can you help me ;-) da

Thanks...daniel amador

[WaterpigMaster]

@danielnamador Hi Daniel — I am actually using Savarez Gut strings too, for all of them — I can find the diameters if you like. What is going wrong when you use your other gurdy in different tunings? Different tensions require different tangent positions, and strings will only make a decent sound within a certain tension range. Hope that helps!