An orchestra in a box-- the Hurdy Gurdy
In May of last year, needing something to dream about, I ordered a Hurdy Gurdy from Altarwind Music , in Oregon. I knew that it would be a long wait, as there was a 7 month backlog to build the instrument. Finally, in November, I received word that my hurdy gurdy was in the works!
I've waited with barely concealed excitement since then, dreaming of playing music, cranking wheels, and having a wonderful time! Finally, the hurdy gurdy arrived on Dec. 24th at 4:30 pm!
I was unable to dance with joy, as I had the flu, and was glued to the couch, but, in my heart, it was a spectacularly joyous moment! At last! Music in the house! Music I could make myself!
The box was HUGE. No matter, I thought, inside is my fabulous instrument... It needs a lot of room. Matthew, my son, carefully cut the tape binding the package and, grunting from the odd angle, pulled out a giant coffin-shaped case. Together, we knelt beside the case and opened it... Inside was truly the most beautiful instrument I have ever seen!
Just so you know, I'm sitting up straight in the picture-- and yes, I am shaped like a potato dumpling. But for scale, I'm 5' tall, my torso is 28" and the hurdy gurdy is 32"... If I don't look thrilled, it is because the camera decided to stop taking a charge and we had enough power for about 3 pictures. I was ready to hurl the camera across the room, as it has been nothing but trouble since I bought it... And yes, I put my hair up in a knot because I'm too tired from being sick to smooth it out, and it looks like a Tina Turner WannaBe without smoothing it.
The cover of the "works" is a pierced design, with Celtic Knot sound holes. The finish is a dark brown with black highlights-- the dragon's head carved head is truly beautiful, and it has a rich patina. There are buttons galore-- on the front, on the back, on the top, on the bottom-- everywhere, there are buttons. I carefully opened the cover and gazed at a complicated mechanism where pegs push against the strings... It is amazing!
Carefully, we pulled it out, and discovered that 1) it is MUCH larger than I thought it would be-- it's body is just about the same size as mine, and 2) it is MUCH heavier than I thought it would be-- either that, or I'm a lot weaker from the flu than I expected! Just holding it is difficult! Much less holding it at the proper angle, so that gravity actually works, and pulls the keys back down, taking pressure off the strings.
I held it carefully, perched on my knees, thinking that I can do this, I just can't do this when I'm sick... Fortunately at my home in Louisville, I've purchased an extremely heavy duty music stand with a large ledge, so maybe I can stand over the music stand and rest it on the ledge, because a guitar strap isn't going to do it-- I tried and my shoulders aren't able-- although, for safety's sake, I will use a guitar strap... Now I know why all the old pictures of hurdy gurdy players are of people sitting!
It is set up like a piano keyboard. Pushing on the keys moves the little bars to the side, which acts as frets on the strings, changing the sound. Fortunately, from my view, I'll be able to see what I'm playing, although I won't be able to see what my fingers are doing. Either that, or I'm going to have to hang like a bat from the ceiling and watch my fingers... With practice, this should work out.
Today, I began the tuning process. The instrument naturally has to "settle in", to our climate, which right now is cold, wet, and nasty, and the strings have to stretch and get adjusted, and then, in the midst of all this, my brand new electronic tuner could pick up my breathing, and I was getting all these weird electronic readings. The wheeze from the flu is a G#, with a little whee at the end that is C#. When I blow my nose, it is an F#.
There are 22 strings-- a mix of guitar, violin, viola, and cello strings. Two sets of specific tunings, one in the key of G and one in the key of D. Pick one. No really, pick either one of them and turn the other one off... It is fully chromatic, so that won't matter. Fortunately, I have a program that will do that. Once I enter all the notes into the program, I can make it change keys... And too, I found the motherlode of sheet music from Uncle Louie's house at my mother's house, so I can play all kinds of things that no one under 80 years of age, but me, has ever heard of... Uncle Louie and all the gang, including my grandparents would be in their 120s, now. 
Then, there are 12 sympathetic strings that you don't play, you just let them sit there and vibrate, to give the instrument resonance. There are all kinds of special buttons and gadgets, and the whole thing is quite ingenious! Each of the adjustable 10 strings can be turned on and off independently of each other. Which is utterly fascinating, to watch it all work, like watching a clock do its thing...
The strings are wrapped with a bit of cotton batting on the wheel, and the wheel must be rosined just so... Not that I know DOODLEY SQUAT about all this, but Altarwinds has thoughtfully provided full videos of all this, even though I'm stuck on #1, Tuning.
Not only that, but, it is fully electric-- meaning I can plug it into an amplifier or into the computer, providing I can find the proper cords, and then mix to my hearts content. If I can just get it tuned ...
Wish me luck!!!
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I look awful in this picture-- but considering how I feel, still, from the flu/cold/crud I've had all week, I look pretty good...
Isn't the hurdy gurdy beautiful? I love hand made things, and I love things with history... I hope you enjoy this article!
Wish me luck tuning!
Who said that old dogs can't learn new tricks?
What could be better than a hurdy gurdy for X-mas ?!
Just read the Wikipedia information on the Hurdy Gurdy - dammmmm Dowser - that is gonna be some kind of challenge but the music is gonna be some kind of awesome.
Best of luck. Make sure you record a tune or six for us to listen too. Gonna be awesome.
When is the first concert?
I can't imagine! I have been so excited-- it has made having the flu a lot better!
Oh my! It is HUGE. I don't remember a guitar being this big, and I weighed about 85 pounds when I played the guitar...
I've been making inquiries in Louisville, and have found not one person that actually owns, or plays, a hurdy gurdy. I may try to contact a violin teacher, of which there are lots, for pointers and tips, but I think I'm on my own. Me and the videos and the book.
I think once you get the strings tuned, and pick a key, it will be more a matter of memorizing the location of the notes and practice. If not, I'm in deep doodoo!
Dear 1st-- it is some instrument, to be sure! 1000 years in design... I just hope I can get the notes down and learn to play it! Tuning has turned into a bugaboo!
IF I can get it tuned and learn to play something besides "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", you bet I'll record it and share!
EGADS, it's this tuning that has me flummoxed!
There are 22 strings
ha ha. And I thought tuning a 12 string guitar was difficult.
That is one cool instrument, Marsha! I have to show my sister. It looks like something she would love. I have to say that I have no idea what you do with one. I'm looking at it and I find it both beautiful and overwhelming.
But I can see you having a lot of fun fooling around with it as you try to figure it out. You know I am friends with a woman who owns a site that is about dulcima playing. I bet you could find a group about how to play your gurdy.
Well I know you will have fun! It's so you!
I found a group here:
I don't remember a guitar being this big, and I weighed about 85 pounds Holy Moley..it weighs more than I do!!! It is beautiful, and I'm sure you will figure out how to play it, and you will play it excellently! I'm happy for you, and I know you will have many hours of happiness with your new "Toy"
You're supposed to tune a 12 string???
Blue - no friggin' way - the dude is good.
Thanks, dear Nona-- I love it! I'm so excited about it, and have such dreams of playing it! I just hope I can get it to tune!!!
He IS the hurdy gurdy master, for sure! If his hurdy-gurdy is anything in size like mine, he is a giant, as well...
This guy is my inspiration:
I think even Donovan got the hurdy gurdy and the barrel organ mixed up! I've listened to the song and it seems to me he is describing a barrel organ, and the man who plays it, but then, what do I know?
Thanks, so much, for the links to the videos and for your kind words!
Oh my gosh. I'm lost and at sea, but battling through! They loosen the strings before shipment, which was a surprise... But, I'm doing my best. They are all numbered, which makes sense, and in octaves, which makes sense. I've just got to figure out which octave.
The pegs are like guitar tuners, geared, and that helps. The only strings that aren't geared are the vibrating strings on the side, and those little peg things have a tool to turn them with... sort of like a piano tuner. A tube on a stick with a right angle.
My electronic tuner is giving me fits, as it picks up my breathing... I've got a wheeze from the flu, and it's in G#.
That is fabulous!!! I'm truly looking forward to checking this group out!
I have a hammer dulcimer and an Appalachian dulcimer, and am going to get them out and work with them, as well. Then, I bought an electric drum set, and all kinds of percussion oddities... Some sort of pod string from Peru that you attach to your leg/arm and shake, maracas of about 4 sizes, tambourines, etc. I have my mother's keyboard, (I have mine, too, but its not as good), my banjo is being worked on, and I've ordered a Cherokee flute, and a rain stick.
We have a silver flute and a piccolo, 2 cornets, a french horn, and a piano that is out of tune, not to mention Matthew's new guzheng, (more about that later), so something, somewhere, should work with it! I need a new guitar, as mine is too worn out to use...
We can have a band. (When I say this, John looks at me like I've lost my mind. Yeah, I have, but it makes me happy, and he might have some fun, too!)
I'm thinking Matthew on the guzheng, french horn, cornet, and John on percussion. Such fun!