(no subject)

A volley of rain
Crashes against the shingles,
Racing off the coast.
To the east, the cloud veiled hills
Huddle beneath greening robes.

(Which means I'm staying in and sewing instead of going to the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco today.)

Random musical thought....

I was sitting downstairs handsewing in front of The Monolith with Master and Commander on. (God, do I love this movie.) Once again I found myself smiling and humming as Jack and Stephen broke into the Passacalle from "La Musica Notturna Delle Strada di Madrid" before the credits rolled. A thought occurred to me - I began humming a drone. It works. This sucker would conceivably work on hurdy gurdy and help me develop a non-SCA repertoire for those sunny afternoons in SF.

Mwahahah, now to try it.....

Hmm. There's an accidental in it I didn't take into account, and I don't have enough range below "do" to replicate the melody exactly, but this is not the first time I've had to invoke the fudge factor while playing a diatonic instrument with limited range. Even though it's not what Boccherini might have had in mind, this concept has potential. Besides, it's such a delightful piece of music.

Sound sample here: http://media.gigmasters.com/mp3/13027_Boccherini1.mp3

(Only thing holding me back from doing too much more at this moment is the way the gurdy is complaining about the rain. Ow.)
 

Because Danabren Asked - On the hurdy gurdy

In fifty words or less, she wants. Startingggggggggggggggggggg NOW:

Think "mechanical violin."
My instrument has two strings that are tuned as drones and a third called the chanter. The crank turns a flywheel* that bows against the strings. Keys called tangents press against the strings (instead of pressing one's fingers against the neck of a violin),  producing a melody. (50)