Caroline Phillips: Hurdy-gurdy for beginners

www.ted.com Caroline Phillips cranks out tunes on a seldom-heard folk instrument: the hurdy-gurdy, a.k.a. the wheel fiddle. A searching, Basque melody follows her fun lesson on its unique anatomy and 1,000-year history.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

[@irateofwatford]

"Seldom heard"? My neighbor in the apartment upstairs gets to hear it any time I chose!

[@JohannesGeworkianHellman]

Haha!

[@DoubleADwarf]

I can't be the only one to think putting a three-minute ad at the end of a five minute video is INCREDIBLY tacky.

[@Riplee]

well anything that long is skippable, & at least it’s not at the start, it’s where you’re likely to leave before the video is even done? For the quality of these videos, I see no harm in them trying to earn a little, and they do it in a less intrusive manner than some others might have it..

[@DeathMetalDerf]

Far from the only one, my guy.

[@jpardue]

I find this instrument most impressive and a complete surprise, another great reason I watch TED's videos. The presentation by Caroline is brief and elegant, we get a quick sample of some music, and a rare listen to Basque vocals. Totally outstanding, an interesting peek into musical antiquity, and one of the wonders brought to me by the internet and a bit of computer technology. Bravo, Caroline Phillips and TED for enlightening me and expanding my awareness.

[@ericlindemann2558]

There is just one tiny little mistake in mentioning the hurdy gurdy: it also was used in Germany and Austria. So if you like, here is theGerman name of the Hurdy: "Drehleier". Even today, we have quite a big community which is playing Mediaval Rock and Folk, using the "Drehleier" :-)

[@villevunge6624]

+Eric I think most european countries have had a tradtition of playing hurdy gurdy..

[@nachtpfoetchen]

Also in ukraine

[@MrPleers]

True. In the Netherlands it was played as well. It's called a "draailier" here.

[@bonnylark]

Also, there are guitar-shaped gurdies, as well, like my little Bassot. And Celtic is pronounced Keltic. C never makes an S sound in Gaelic. The Boston Celtics are the exception, in protest to the snooty Harvard professors who tried to correct the townies.

[@MG-ln1yw]

Also Sweden, called "Vevlira".

[@KawhackitaRag]

A hurdy-gurdy is a stringed bagpipe. That can be either a put-down or a boost-up depending upon whether or not you like bagpipes and whether or not you like hurdy-gurdies.

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

I love her voice. I always was intrigued by the instrument. It's nice to see something like this. Makes me want one now!

[@TheLaughingOut]

In my experience, an instrument sounds so much more beautiful when I know how it works. Thank you TEDtalks!

[@net_spider]

There is also sympathetic strings. Kinda new on Hurdy Gurdys, but the idea is that the whole instrument is vibrating while in use... so why not harness that vibration into sound? These strings aren't located on the wheel and instead line the body of the instrument on either side of it (usually 3 or 4 grouped together on either side of the instrument for a total of 6 to 8 sympathetic strings). These strings are typically quieter than the other strings, but help amplify and compliment the sounds being created.

[@FitZhurdygurdy]

Yep, sympathetic strings are just to add tone and a slight reverb effect to the gurdy. They've been a feature of French gurdies since about the 1700's and usually come in a set of 4. Probably inspired by the viola d'amore.

[@DylanFanification]

Absolutely wonderful! I love the hurdy-gurdy. Mummers Dance by Loreena Mckennitt inspired me to seek out this instrument!

[@dslkjvoxicuyhgl4554]

Wow, haven't heard that song, or any Loreena Mckennitt in YEARS. Now I gotta listen to The Highwayman. Song always game me goosebumps in the middle, like no other song. Had no idea that was the Hurdy Gurdy, thought it was a cello or something.

[@janelangford2693]

LOREENA MCKENNIT YES

[@eriklenh]

Very nice. But its indeed also player in Germany ("Drehleier")

[@BRIERFOX]

what a beautiful voice and a great talent.....love the hurdy gurdy.

[@MrFair]

Yes, I also found that quite suprising. Especially since there are a lot of modern german folk bands nowadays who play the hurdy-gurdy.

[@eddygonzalez6018]

Love the sound of Euskaldunak been spoken.

[@P00P0STER0US]

Neat instrument, it's amazing the many ways clever people have devised to create unique sounds.

[@nathanvanmiddlesworthmedia844]

The buzzing bridge is also used on Tromba Marina,but...I wouldn't expect many people to know that! :D

[@journeyer58]

@luddomatic TED means Technology, Entertainment and Design, meaning all three can and should be talked about. TED has become a major source of lectures for me. They show the range of people and their causes. Thanks TED for the breadth and depth of lectures on all meaningful causes.

[@Snuffsis]

Tbh, the rolex commercial at the end was better than the tedtalk itself, anyone agrees?

[@RyanRancidStaines]

WOW!!!! amazing I also want one now ive alway loved medieval music

[@KawhackitaRag]

I don't know if it's the "only instrument" played using a rotating rosined wheel and a crank... there were keyboard instruments in the 1500s and 1600s which did a similar thing, named "geigenwerk", "viola organista", and "bogenclavier". In the 19th century, the Kaufman family came up with the "Harmonichord". However I would agree with her that the hurdy-gurdy is the only really PORTABLE such instrument, much in the way a guitar is more portable than an (acoustic) piano!

[@lauralairose5164]

I want a Hurdy Gurdy!

[@mythocrat]

+Lauralai Elizalove me tooo! :'(

[@Zeagods-CyberShadow]

Also to

[@BrickDevourer]

Same but they are 1200 minimum :(

[@someonesendhelpplease]

@@BrickDevourer buy a Nerdy Gurdy, you assemble it yourself and it costs like 300

[@BrickDevourer]

@@someonesendhelpplease now that's something I can actually afford

[@Dice-Gamble]

Black Sails brought me here. Love her intro and subsequent performance as well

[@EclecticSceptic]

This is great! I'd never seen or heard of that instrument.

[@rustyjones7908]

Show of hand: Who here wandered to this video after listening to Eluveitie?

[@finfan7]

Arcane led me here.

[@MrKDB001]

+Rusty Jones them and Guilhem Desq.

[@Skiamakhos]

Nah, came here from Patty Gurdy & Stormseeker :-)

[@xerospacious4024]

ski, same

[@edi9892]

Guess not. Faun, Omnia, or Patty Gurdy may be the cause.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

Whenever I think of the music this thing creates it usually comes to me in a sad-sounding, droning, minor key kind of way. I've never really heard "happy" sounding music in a major key come from a hurdy-gurdy. Now I want one to add to my collection of musical instruments I can't play but own anyway.

[@nonalolagirl]

I think this is interesting. I want to play one

[@astrophonix]

Beautiful sound!

[@098anne]

I love this instrument! The sound stirs my blood. Reminds me a bit of bagpipes. Love love love!

[@CodyAllenmusic]

I love me a good Hurdy Gurdy. They are used a lot in viking music too.

[@lora_mist8928]

It’s like a string instrument that looked at all the others and was just like, YES

[@Yanto-The-Bard]

This is Fascinating.

[@HimmiJoe]

Sweet, I want one of those! Very interesting looking instrument.

[@jozefkovac2806]

You forget ot mantion hungarian verzion of hurdy-gurdy, so called Tekerő Lant.

[@nyser1]

I loved it!

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

I can't help but smile at this :)

[@christophermontoya5526]

At one point, I was trying to learn the French language. After practicing some basic words with a Rosetta Stone program, I attempted to read a French version of The Count of Monte Cristo. I saw the word vjel and consulted my French translation dictionary which told me vjel meant hurdy gurdy which, of course, was no help since I didn't know what a hurdy gurdy was. I'm building a ugears working toy model of one now. The instructions have tabs and ugears has tabs for it on KZbin.

[@willowtreephoto]

wonderful!

[@MountMonty]

I need one of those.

[@marcosPRATA918]

Excelente apresentação. O Organistrum é um antecessor do Hurdy-gurdy, era tocado por duas pessoas.

[@Damdenn]

pretty cool stuff. Makes me wonder where I could get one and start to learn to play.

[@lynxu525]

太迷人了！谢谢讲演者，也谢谢TED！

[@natural-self-healing]

Was used also in Czechia and Slovakia, called NINERA (Ninyera)

[@Nyckelharpsmusik]

Nice played and intressing explanations about musikhistory. I play the swedish Keyharp=(Nyckelharpa) .

[@helmsleyy]

Thanks !

[@MetroCammellDMUs]

the Hurdy-Gurdy is used for the Music in the TV series Black Sails. definately creates the sound for Pirates

[@MrKDB001]

Misinformation: the hurdy gurdy is NOT the only wheeled string. there are at least two other traditional and several modern wheeled string instruments. By modern I am including one Da Vinci invented in the early 1500s.

[@shiningarmor2838]

My favorite is the wheelharp

[@nowotnik]

+MrKDB001 Misinformation: It wasn't "invented" by Da Vinci - bowing wheel idea was around since the XI C. and the instrument you are referring to is the bowed clavier, built in Germany and Netherlands in XVII c. as an experimental contraption. Da Vinci might have had the similar idea sketched but never got to build anything like that. It never got even close to the popularity of hurdy-gurdy and remained merely as an abandoned invention. Off course now, that the hurdy-gurdy is making its comeback, everyone is combining bowing wheel, keyboards, parts etc. and building their own cross-overs, which from the taxonomic point of view doesn't count in this discussion.

[@makesquash]

There's also a Pakistani instrument that's pretty simelar, it has a fretboard instead of keys.

[@Gilgamesh417]

that basque song starts off so haunting

[@cn9630]

I WOULD SOOOOO LOVE TO HAVE THIS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS INSTRUMENT

[@BirdWhisperer46]

Only about $4000

[@hartleybanton6058]

wonderful

[@Visceral3D]

sounds awesome :O

[@guidi2005]

Awesome i want one.

[@fnersch3367]

Bowed instruments were introduced in to Europe about 1000 years ago from the Middle East. The hurdy gurdy followed soon after. The Bizantines got violin like instruments from the khans who in turn got them from China.

[@KawhackitaRag]

Speaking of rotating rosined wheels, the Mills Violano-Virtuoso automatic violin player uses these for bows. They built at least one custom instrument with retractable keyboards for hand-playing (which exists), and had the "Mills Melody Violins" commercially available, which also featured two keyboards which could play four violins (no examples of this model are known today, unfortunately). I think is is not too hard to connect a MIDI keyboard to a MIDI-equipped Violano-Virtuoso.

[@mrhearse777]

When I was at school , our teachers were never this beautiful , or interesting!

[@Dangbroo]

in poland it's also a thing, it's called a lira korbowa which translates directly to crank lyre

[@secretarykilkennychoir7137]

On your map, please distinguish the Republic of Ireland from the U.K. Happy Saint Patrick's Day. Great tone.

[@rotomon]

Probably my most favorite instrument besides a Nycleharpa

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

Hurdy gurdy turns up in the most unlikely places. For example, a Metallica song: Low Man's Lyric, from the album ReLoad.

[@SuperWasweissichdenn]

Of course!

[@KawhackitaRag]

I must also add the "Wheelharp" to the list of keyboard-operated bowed-string instruments (acoustic instruments). This instrument is a new invention/refinement and is built by Antiquity Music in Calfiornia.

[@MsThatguywiththeface]

Celtic is pronounced with a K sound, not an S sound. I know this because the root word is the Latin "Celtae," a corruption of the Greek "Keltoi."

[@imogen4535]

My friends made fun of me for wanting to play this instrument but after really getting into cellar darling i think it sounds totally magical

[@mushroom6097]

Ur friends sound like assholes

[@piper2000ca]

Generally I don't care much for the "Entertainment" part of TED, but that one was really cool, and informative.

[@jussts]

Okay, I want one now.

[@KawhackitaRag]

Some people like the drones, some people hate the drones. Some people like the "dog" effect (buzz-saw sound), and some people (myself included) hate it. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like the sound of a Hurdy-Gurdy with the drones and dog turned off, played by a real virtuoso, a sensitive musician. Then, it sounds closer to a viola or violin. I really liked this lady's performance, but even if you didn't like her, check out Matthias Loibner, who plays the instrument differently.

[@livinginthepast3]

@jay81rd I think capos can be used as a way to do play in other keys. Not familiar with how they work, but I read it somewhere...

[@chronoporter]

Check out this Swiss metal band by the name of Eluveitie. They have a Hurdy-gurdy player!

[@totoro81791]

Lol thanks. I actually got a personal message from Caroline Phillips telling me who the luthier was =)

[@leimo25]

Pretty cool thing. Haven't heard it.

[@totoro81791]

That is one of the most beautiful hurdy gurdies that I've seen. Anyone know who the maker of that hurdy gurdy is?

[@zarkoff45]

Someone needs to invent the electric Hurdy-gurdy.

[@arifreeman]

The Tromba Marina has a similar buzzing bridge.

[@aandredaandred3378]

2:16 Huh, what? UK, Spain, France, Italy? I'd argue hurdy-gurdy is a most prominent folk instrument in Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. Also, hurdy-gurdy is not the only instrument with a buzzing bridge. Tromba marina features it as well.

[@FitZhurdygurdy]

Central France and Galicia definitely have the most prolific gurdy traditions, Hungary and Ukraine are high on the list too tho.

[@RandoPandaSmiles]

Shure SM58 FTW!

[@anaisabelgarridomartinez7946]

Beautiful song in Euskara. Eskerrik asko

[@Stratophony]

Eluveitie - Of Fire, Wind & Wisdom

[@MountMonty]

@zarkoff45 Haha, that's what i was thinking during the vid but then i saw a cable already coming from the instrument :O

[@ragnarocks0]

@bigshel99 You are free to skip it , so i see no reason to complain.

[@adj789]

Here comes the hurdy gurdy man now singing songs of love...

[@gspahr]

@luddomatic Perhaps it's your screen, nothing happening on my laptop screen, but I understand what you mean, I saw this happen on many cathode-ray-tube screens.

[@MelloGee33]

The sound of that thing makes me want to get up and start doing a medieval jig in a pair of leotards and leather boots. 😂

[@TheRealHedgeMonkey]

i want one

[@jackjackattack9137]

My grandmother had one, RIP granny. I wish to get one myself, not to play. Still too painful, but to take to guitar center and tell them to restring and tune it ! I'd modify mine though, remove the crank and install pulley and hook to sewing machine motor. Turn it on before I go to work for my dog. Bet that would stop him from barking at night while I try to sleep !

[@SuperSuplex]

5:16 apparently even george lucas likes the hurdy gurdy

[@Jonny---nm4lw]

That is the most beautiful hurdy Gordy of seen

[@Resegy]

In italian Ghironda with hard "g" because "gh" is always hard in italian

[@maaderllin]

@withoutnameorplace In french it's pronounced Seltic, so it's an error french speaker are often making.

[@giorgiodifrancesco4590]

The real name of this instrument in italian is "ghironda", with "ghi", that sounds like the french and spanish "gui". Gironda, in italian is not an instrument, but a french region.

[@livinginthepast3]

I think this could have been a fantastic talk, but I'm not sure she was the person to do it. There are some brilliant luthiers who could speak much more articulately on the topic and kicked this up to another level entirely. Oh well, HGs are always interesting...Not sure I like the design of this HG - reminds me of a muffler. But she plays well enough and sings nicely.

[@phatpat63]

Now I understand why I've never heard one of these.

[@arjantjeee]

She forgot that it's also traditional to Belgium Netherlands and germany

[@nowotnik]

+Arjan h. and Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and even Sweden

[@rducky01]

She also tried say that all of Ireland is part of the UK. haha...

[@Caradepato]

And Portugal

[@RasWouto]

mighty instrument players of instruments shall be called

[@Chimerathon]

@GooDpropeller You say that as if being subscribed to this channel wasn't completely free, and as if this wasn't a TED Talk.

[@Ghryst]

i tuned my hurdy gurdy to 432hz now it is a synthesizer

[@Ghryst]

ps: stfu, we didnt come here to hear you croning

[@Drewdtx]

Did NOT realize Freddy Kreuger listened to hurdy-gurdy music...

[@OCSnowBoarder]

was advert longer then the TEDTalk - Performance?

[@Sarosun]

nice 3 minute rolex stuff :)

[@Cheebzsta]

Am I the only one who thinks she should've played the Rocky theme?

[@SasaYamaoka]

Good stuff starts at 2:50

[@AbideinChristFully]

Wow...the first synth keyboard.

[@VortexMotiveVision]

@andresico2 : Some of the people claiming to be ETA conduct abhorrent activities, but ETA themselves are simply freedom fighters.