60 Minutes (+/-) of Relaxing Nyckelharpa and Hurdy Gurdy Music

I was joined by Nyckelharpa player Claire Sweeney, of Morgantown, WV, a week and a half ago. She volunteered to help me play some tunes as a special event for a retreat I was leading.

A few members of the Hurdy Gurdy Community have asked for sheet music for the tunes we played. Many of these tunes are traditional Irish tunes. Some of the others are compositions from other hurdy gurdy players, as well as myself and Claire.

Below is a list of the available sheet music for these tunes. The others, we either never wrote out after we composed them, or we learned them by ear.

Inisheer – https://thesession.org/tunes/211
Attfield’s Lament – https://ashevillemandolin.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/attfields-lament.pdf
Farewell to Glasgow – https://thesession.org/tunes/1415
Return from Fingal – https://thesession.org/tunes/851
Monaghan Jig – https://thesession.org/tunes/67
Muireann’s – https://thesession.org/tunes/1902
Midnight on the Sea –
Deep Time –

Trip to Pakistan – https://thesession.org/tunes/112

Enjoy, and send us your performances of the tunes. We’d love to hear them.

Hurdy Gurdy Innovations, Sound and Fire – w/Wolfgang Weichselbaumer – HGC Season 2 Finale

This podcast was released on July 9th, 2021 at 9:16 PM Eastern Time Zone, as the Moon is perfectly new.

Video:

The Hurdy Gurdy Cafe Season 2 Episode 10 Podcast
Season Finale

Wolfgang Weichselbaumer
Featured Music

  1. Uzh Kak Po Mostu, Mostochiku. Hurdy-Gurdy Solo – Andrey Vinogradov
  2. Germán Díaz – Nimboestrato
  3. Valentin Clastrier, Et la Roue de la Vie by Duo Clastrier-Kamperman (PAN 2015)
  4. F. J. Haydn – Concerto for 2 lire organizzate in C [Hob.VII h:1]
  5. Tobie Miller, Matthias Loibner and Thierry Nouat

When, why and how did Wolfgang start building hurdy gurdies?
What was the first instrument Wolfgang built?
Where did Wolfgang’s instrument’s sound come from?
Did Wolfgang study anything before building instruments?
How did people react to the sound the sound of Wolfgang’s first instruments?
Did Wolfgang know he was going to have the impact he has on the instrument?
What hurdy gurdy related inventions is Wolfgang responsible for?
What is the material of Wolfgang’s synthetic wheel?
Are instruments by Wolfgang Weichselbaumer good for beginners?
What is the most difficult aspect of building a hurdy gurdy?
How did Valentin Clastrier feel about Wolfgang’s instruments?
What hobbies does Wolfgang have?
What is the relationship of the player to the instrument?
Does Wolfgang have hurdy gurdy apprentices?
How many instruments has Wolfgang built over the years?
Does the number of strings on a hurdy gurdy effect the sound?
Do 3 strings on the hurdy gurdy give the perfect sound?
What musicians or luthiers inspires Wolfgang?

Special thanks to Sergio Gonzalez, for all of his support through these two seasons! https://www.zanfoneando.com/

Claire Dugue on Hurdy Gurdy Building and Exoskeletons – HGCS2E5

This podcast was released at April 26th, 2021 at 11:31 PM Eastern Time Zone, as the Moon is perfectly Full. (For show notes and podcast audio, scroll down, down, down…)

Video –

Podcast Audio –

Claire Dugue on Hurdy Gurdy Building and Exoskeletons – HGCS2E5

Featured Music

“Folhas Cintilantes” from Matthias Loibner

“Ouvrez la Porte “ F.Paris & G.Chabenat

“Longa Farhafsa” played by German Diaz and Pascal Lefeuvre.

Topics Covered

How did you first learn about Hurdy Gurdy?

How did you learn to build Hurdy Gurdies?

What made you decided to start building?

How long have you been building?

How do you approach building?

Were you inspired by any particular builders?

Do all the hurdy gurdy makers in the UK hang out?

Who needs more trompettes?

What model hurdy gurdy does Claire Dugue offer?

What’s the deal with the exoskeleton on the Gurdies?

What special electronics can go into a Dugue Hurdy Gurdy?

What’s the best part of being a Hurdy Gurdy builder?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn to build a hurdy gurdy?

What was the hardest part about learning to build a hurdy gurdy?

What are some general maintenance tips and strategies you recommend for keeping gurdies sounding good.

What machinery is needed to build a good hurdy gurdy?

What is the best kind of luthier to take your hurdy gurdy to for repairs, if you don’t have access to a hurdy gurdy luthier?

How much does humidity effect a hurdy gurdy?

For more information about Claire’s work please visit:

https://www.claire-dugue.com/#home

The Hurdy Gurdy Cafe Podcast Season 1 Episode 6

Hurdy Gurdy Cafe Pocast Season 1 Episode 6 – An Interview with Michalina Malisz of Eluveitie

This podcast was released at October 1st, 2020 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time Zone, as the Moon is perfectly full. (For show notes and podcast audio, scroll down, down, down…)

Video-

Audio-

Featured Music –
Etienne Pinoteau – “Palet” – https://youtu.be/d9kr8vJiPdc

-How did Michalina Malisz get started on the Hurdy Gurdy?
-How did Michalina come to join Eluveitie?
-How do you develop a “Rock and Roll” persona?
-What was the recording process with Eluveitie like?
-Let’s talk about MM’s Aplo and Saphona Hurdy Gurdies.
-What was Scott Marshall’s role in developing the Aplo Hurdy Gurdy?
-Do Elves make the hurdy gurdy instruments for Ancestore?
-What’s it like getting Hurdy Gurdy lessons with Sergio Gonzalez? https://www.zanfoneando.com/hurdy-gurdy-online-lessons/
-How sturdy and sensitive is the Aplo hurdy gurdy to temperature and weather?

Featured Music –
Thierry Nout – LARGO sound impression -https://youtu.be/u3JMj2GtdHs

-How did Michalina get started on YouTube?
-What are the top 10 Iconic Guitar Riffs on Hurdy Gurdy?
-How do you make the hurdy gurdy your own?
-How do you get really good at playing the Hurdy Gurdy?
-What is Michalina’s biggest challenge on the Hurdy Gurdy?
-What are Michalina’s plans for a solo project?
-Who are Michalina Malisz’s most influential Hurdy Gurdy players?

Featured Music-
Konstanze Kulinsky – VIVACE – https://youtu.be/JEhLlcYFS6I