Announcing our Monarch IV

Speaking of Notes from the Hurdy-gurdy world, there are some new notes coming from both our workshop and our living room. For some time Mel has worked on a tenor Gurdy. Not only seeking that special sound, he decided he should have one of his very own with all the bells and whistles…for product improvements of course. Working on it in his spare time as we have several customer orders to complete, it has taken over 3 years from side bending to singing. After years of listening to several of our models warm up and be tweaked in our home, I must admit this Maestro has the sweetest mellow sound I have heard. I actually ask Mel if he will play it this evening while I work on writing or folding laundry.

While the instrument is already acoustically awesome, his goal is to include a pro-quality pickup/ preamp system that adds richer depth and versatility.

 The Maestro IV will be the product of many hours of experimenting, do-overs, and the input of many talented gurdy friends. 

I sound like a grandma bragging on the grandkids. Oh well after all this time she does feel like family. Stay tuned for more updates.

 

 

Indiana Hurdy Gurdy Workshop

The final winding miles taking us to the Waycross  convention center near Bloomington, Indiana were as beautiful in their October colors as last year. Hurdy-gurdy players from across the US both novice and professional enjoyed 4 days of teaching, learning, and most of all great music. Master Instructors Juan Wijngaard, Bob  Green and Michael Opp each taught several classes, Mel Dorries of Hurdy-gurdy Crafters was there with his tool box as well as his Maestro. Others brought a variety of instruments including home built gurdies and even a few by European builders. Other instruments included bagpipes, hammer dulcimer, flute, and concertina.

As you enjoy the sampling of pictures from the weekend, picture your self in one of the classes, at the lunch table, or playing your instrument far into the evening with other musicians picking up a suggestion or sharing one. Then watch this blog for the dates for next year and mark it on your claendar. We would love to see you there.








Good food and good fellowship and lots of gurdy talk.

Michael works one on one as well as with a class. The personal instruction available and everyones willingness to answer your questions makes it the perfect place for beginners as well as experienced musicians.






Hope to see you next year!



Have you started packing your bags for Bloomington? I'd like to tell you we have but actually Mel is putting the finishing touches on a couple gurdies going with him, and I am still fitting zippers to their cases. Oh, well we still have 13 & 1/2 days minus the week ends. For those of you who haven't been before, the grounds are beautiful, the food very plentiful, and the music goes on and on and on. It is a wonderful time to connect with gurdy players from around the US. We hope to see you all there.



Waycross main building just a short walk from the Festival lodgings.
Michael and Mel enjoy a brief break from playing.

Yes the Hurdy-Gurdies are still making beautiful music here at Hurdy-gurdy Crafters. And yes although my last post is 2 years old, much is the same. Mid July, we packed up our tent, booth stuff, and an assortment of instruments for our annual trip to The FunFest at Evart, Michigan and came away committed to be there again next year. Many new gurdy players are coming now including Michael Opp who gave a magnificent show at several evening Jam sessions. Mel, Michael, and Dave Smith did 3 songs on stage during open mike. While still a novelty at a Dulcimer festival, the Hurdy-gurdy is becoming an old friend to many at Evart. We made a new friend this year, Jim, who takes care of the venders including Hurdy-Gurdy Crafters and treated us very well! We missed Brian McCoy who was with us last year. Both he and Michael were great ambassadors giving demonstrations around the festival grounds.

At the end of July we hosted the meeting of the Michigan Violin Builders here at our home and shop. It was a time of teaching, sharing, and exploring some new ideas. Several of the violin luthiers were surprised to discover some commonalities between the instruments and Mel was delighted in their added insights on various aspects of building.

It still not too late to sign up for the Indiana Hurdy-Gurdy Workshop October 3-6, 2013.  More information at www.earlymusicinmotion.org. This is for amateurs and professionals alike. We have several instruments on the bench, two headed for their new owners at this workshop, so I have to get back to work.