An Occitanian musical experience by 2 two masters of the vielle, Patrick Bouffard and Gilles Chabenet. The vielle is a sort of relative to the hurdy gurdy...it has drone strings and strings which are played by pressing wooden keys while cranking a disc which vibrates the strings.
It is a true medieval instrument and it's piercing sound and volume made ti the perfect machine to propell the wild country dance music of Aquitane and the Auvergne...I've tried to play them, some day perhaps I'll own one...
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I have some neat recordings of Breton, Provencal, and Occitanian christmas carols featuring the folk instruments. I particularly like the CD Noel Nouveau Est Venu.
I've seen Patrick Bouffard a few times and have some cd's....
My friend Mimi plays the vielle and has let me try to play it a few times. Her husband, Claud plays the Cornu, which is like a bagpipe....
You don't realize how many decibles these instruments are capable of when played in a group.
I am so pleased that this is real living tradition and not just a folklorique, living museum piece....
Interestingly, it is played with the LEFT hand. That is very curios indeed. Great sound with pounding and haunting reeds typical of Canada's Great Breton fiddling and Louisiana's zydeco accordion sound. There are also elements of Appalachian fiddling.
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