Hurdy Gurdy

Howard Skempton has established over the last 50 years a reputation as one of the UKs most accomplished and internationally-acclaimed composers, with a style which is based on traditional tonality and lyricism; but he also delights in working with unusual instruments and settings, as is clear from this superb new album including music for hurdy-gurdy, viol, medieval harp, accordion and gamelan alongside normal contemporary Western instruments.

The “Ancient Hurdy Gurdy” is a Hurdy Gurdy Library for Kontakt 5. The Hurdy Gurdy is an instrument that is older than thousand years. With its absolutely unique sound it is well known as a medieval instrument that is still often being played on medieval events. And as a very unique member of the stringed instruments family it can be used to create very special audio-colors.

In the time of Madame de Pompadour, the hurdy-gurdy, like the musette, enjoyed a great success. It was considered to be on a level with other instruments and, as can be seen in various paintings, was highly regarded by the ladies of the aristocracy. Several books of instruction for the instrument were published, one of which was Michel Corrette's La belle vielleuse; virtuoso players such as Danguy and Dupuits extended its playing techniques to their limits. The instrument's charm was sung by various poets whose words were then set as cantatas. The unknown works that constitute this recording place it firmly in the French court of the time with its stylized pastoral diversions.