http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3py3Ap8_Y#t=108
An instrument combining a piano and cello has finally been played to an audience more than 500 years after it was dreamt up Leonardo da Vinci.
A very interesting sound!
Not sure if you can access the story, as it's on The Age website: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/ ... 2xpqs.html
Viola organista
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Viola organista
Mornings wouldn't suck so badly if they came later in the day.
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It's all right there - look at the still picture, then look at the close ups that are in the video, at 9:27. From the keys back you have the tuning pins, then the bridge, then the mechanism to pull each string down individually, and dampen it when not in use, then the four red spinning disks which appear to be steel rimmed but evidently have some horsehair on their rim. And beyond that, the bridges for the other ends of the strings. As the key is pushed down, the string pushes down on the spinning rim.
Or you can just look at a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS9c76V4RDE
Or you can just look at a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS9c76V4RDE
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus
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The hurdy gurdy has one generally one string, the length of which is determined as it is played, so only one note can sound at a time. The viola organista has a full set of fixed strings, and you can play as many as you like at a time.
Horn:organ::hurdy gurdy:viola organista
I'm seriously geeking out on this. Did I ever mention the time I built a clavichord?
Horn:organ::hurdy gurdy:viola organista
I'm seriously geeking out on this. Did I ever mention the time I built a clavichord?
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus
Impish, I think it's likely that gurdy goes back to before Da Vinci's time. Wiki mentions references to 10th century texts describing similar instruments.
narya, do tell about the clavichord! My favorite thing about having a piano in the house was opening the lid and watching all the little hammers jump. And a hurdy can have multiple strings, both drone and melody.
narya, do tell about the clavichord! My favorite thing about having a piano in the house was opening the lid and watching all the little hammers jump. And a hurdy can have multiple strings, both drone and melody.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!