Balázs NAGY,
hurdy-gurdy maker - Budapest
As a folk musician
began studying the hurdy gurdy, ways of making them, styles of playing
them, developing my own style of playing the instrument. 
I
had experimented with other instruments,but the hurdy gurdy was the
most interesting, now I've been working with this instrument for over
15 years. The first instruments I made were copies of museum pieces,
then based upon my own and my colleagues’ experience, I began "modifying”
the instruments in order to live up to modern expectations of quality.
These modifications are done without sacrificing the traditional form
and decoration; basically from the outside they cannot be detected.
From the collection at the Ethnographic Museum in Budapest, I have gotten
to know the forms and decoration characteristic of the Hungarian hurdy
gurdies, on which I have based the measurements and forms of my instruments.
In the course of my work through the years , every one of the old instruments
I have seen has shown me special tricks and innovations which I faithfully
incorporate into each of my instruments. Upon the requests of my musician
colleagues,
I have also started
to make instruments
with different forms and tunings.
Now
in addition to the traditional hurdy gurdy
from Hungary’s Southern Plain (Délalföld), there is also a larger one
with a bass tuning. In accordance
with other requests, I have begun to make a French style "vielle"
and the simpler "symphonia" from roman times. In addition to
making new instruments, I also accept repair work, tuning and construction
of cases.
I believe that is important to make the value of folk instruments widely
known and thus take part in exhibitions as a craftsperson or hold live
demonstrations, as well as play with my band TÁLTOS
Ensemble and the BOURDON
TRIÓ. As a formerly member of the Hungarian Instrument Makers Association,
I participate in
exhibitions and competitions, where I have earned awards for my work.
I wrote a book about my favourite theme: The Hurdy-Gurdy
Handbook: A Practical Handbook for Players and Aficionados of
the
Tekerő (Hungarian Hurdy-Gurdy), it has a full English trans. by Arle Lommel.
History and method with sample tunes. 135 pages.
Hungarian Heritage House Publication Series, 2006
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Bass H-G 1. |
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Bass H-G 2. |
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Symphonie |
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