11-06-2012, 05:47 PM
Great pics Paul – thanks for posting them, and to Maitiu for sending them. What a pity that we missed the chance to meet Maitiu at our little noon rendezvous at the NVCF!
A hurdy gurdy museum with not a hurdy gurdy in sight, but a splendid selection of vintage radios and gramophones? I’ll have to ask Maitiu if they do indeed have any hurdy gurdys, and if not, how come it’s name? All the publicity seems to focus on the museum’s collection (housed in Howth’s Martello tower) as consisting radios and gramophones from the early 1900’s to present day.
Have any forum members apart from John Geaney visited it?
Apart from the radio and gramophone exhibits, no doubt the Martello tower in which they’re housed is interesting in its own right. These small defensive forts - about 40ft high with two floors, were built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards. The British built about fifty Martellos around the Irish coastline, especially along the east coast, but also around Cork Harbour on the south coast, the most likely points of any sea invasion. On the east coast they were concentrated mainly around Dublin Bay, with the towers in line of sight of each other, providing the ability to communicate with one another, or to warn of any incoming attacks.
I’ve long been fascinated by hurdy gurdys – I know that like bagpipes, accordions or whatever, they’re not to everyone’s liking, but I like the sound they make, and think they’re wonderful examples of craftsmanship in wood – far more complex than say a mandolin or guitar. I came close to going on a residential course on hurdy gurdy making, but instead, opted for a more mundane, but nevertheless fascinating, Windsor chair making course. When I brought a Windsor chair home after a week away, my wife was quite pleased, but had she have known I'd bring a hurdy gurdy back, I think she'd have changed the lock!
Hurdy-gurdy players - like bagpipe players, can't control the volume of their instruments which makes it difficult to use for accompanying the human voice but the intensity and volume of the instrument made it ideal for great halls and public places in s bygone age. One advantage that it has is that it is a complete instrument, able to play melody, harmony and rhythm.
During the 12 and 13th centuries the hurdy-gurdy was known as either an 'organistrum' or a 'symphonia'. The somewhat derogatory term “hurdy-gurdy” only came into use during the 18th century, and confusion was caused by the later use of the term “hurdy-gurdy” for the barrel organs and street pianos of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It’s still quite a popular and highly regarded instrument in rural France, where the French call it “ la vielle à roue” (wheel fiddle) or simply “ vielle” for obvious reasons – a wooden wheel is cranked and plays the strings in rather the same way as a fiddle is played. It has a continuous drone string, rather like a bagpipe drone, and the other strings are played by operating keys with the other hand.
True, not to everyone’s liking, but see what you think of the MPs sound sample ‘noemie’ at this link:
http://www.midcoast.com/~beechhil/vielle/sounds.html
To some it might sound like a dirge, but I’m quite partial to it. To my ears, it evokes foot-tapping Cajun fiddle music.
I doubt it would sound like that if I got my hands on it!
A hurdy gurdy museum with not a hurdy gurdy in sight, but a splendid selection of vintage radios and gramophones? I’ll have to ask Maitiu if they do indeed have any hurdy gurdys, and if not, how come it’s name? All the publicity seems to focus on the museum’s collection (housed in Howth’s Martello tower) as consisting radios and gramophones from the early 1900’s to present day.
Have any forum members apart from John Geaney visited it?
Apart from the radio and gramophone exhibits, no doubt the Martello tower in which they’re housed is interesting in its own right. These small defensive forts - about 40ft high with two floors, were built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards. The British built about fifty Martellos around the Irish coastline, especially along the east coast, but also around Cork Harbour on the south coast, the most likely points of any sea invasion. On the east coast they were concentrated mainly around Dublin Bay, with the towers in line of sight of each other, providing the ability to communicate with one another, or to warn of any incoming attacks.
I’ve long been fascinated by hurdy gurdys – I know that like bagpipes, accordions or whatever, they’re not to everyone’s liking, but I like the sound they make, and think they’re wonderful examples of craftsmanship in wood – far more complex than say a mandolin or guitar. I came close to going on a residential course on hurdy gurdy making, but instead, opted for a more mundane, but nevertheless fascinating, Windsor chair making course. When I brought a Windsor chair home after a week away, my wife was quite pleased, but had she have known I'd bring a hurdy gurdy back, I think she'd have changed the lock!
Hurdy-gurdy players - like bagpipe players, can't control the volume of their instruments which makes it difficult to use for accompanying the human voice but the intensity and volume of the instrument made it ideal for great halls and public places in s bygone age. One advantage that it has is that it is a complete instrument, able to play melody, harmony and rhythm.
During the 12 and 13th centuries the hurdy-gurdy was known as either an 'organistrum' or a 'symphonia'. The somewhat derogatory term “hurdy-gurdy” only came into use during the 18th century, and confusion was caused by the later use of the term “hurdy-gurdy” for the barrel organs and street pianos of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It’s still quite a popular and highly regarded instrument in rural France, where the French call it “ la vielle à roue” (wheel fiddle) or simply “ vielle” for obvious reasons – a wooden wheel is cranked and plays the strings in rather the same way as a fiddle is played. It has a continuous drone string, rather like a bagpipe drone, and the other strings are played by operating keys with the other hand.
True, not to everyone’s liking, but see what you think of the MPs sound sample ‘noemie’ at this link:
http://www.midcoast.com/~beechhil/vielle/sounds.html
To some it might sound like a dirge, but I’m quite partial to it. To my ears, it evokes foot-tapping Cajun fiddle music.
I doubt it would sound like that if I got my hands on it!
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
