Hurdy-Gurdy iPhone App

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Paul Howland

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Dec 21, 2011, 3:14:13 AM12/21/11
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Just stumbled across this app for when you need a pocket-sized gurdy to keep you company:  HurdyGurdyApp

Enjoy!

Augusto de Ornellas Abreu

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Dec 21, 2011, 4:39:08 AM12/21/11
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I will copy and paste what the developer of that App posted on the UK gurdy list, and then later what Neil Brook said about it:

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Hello all,

It has been just over a year and a half now since I tentatively attended the Hurdy Gurdy Festival in Youlgreave in the hope of finding out some more about the instrument, and meeting some players that might be able to help me with my concept for an app for the Appschool competition run by the White Room in Manchester. 

As a classically trained french horn player who had never seen the instrument before, I was intrigued but also terrified that I would be shunned and ridiculed by lovers of the gurdy. Thankfully it was one of the most enjoyable weekends ever and almost everybody I spoke to was really supportive!

With the help of lots of wonderful people that I spoke to and heard, I went on to win the competition and funded the creation of my Hurdy Gurdy app for iPhone / iPod touch! 

I wanted to let you all know that it's now for sale on Apple's Appstore so if you know anybody who would like to own the instrument but cannot afford it yet please pass on the word! It has fantastic recordings of Steve Tyler playing Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, the Cantiga de Santa Maria No.377 and his own composition entitled Frenetique.

Here's the sales pitch:

The hurdy gurdy is an ancient instrument that has been played for centuries. With its distinctive sound, this rare instrument is heavily sought-after by 'in-the-know' musicians. 

Now, we're putting the hurdy gurdy into your pocket. 

The magnificent Hurdy Gurdy is an ancient mechanical stringed instrument, thought to have originated in the Middle East, and was popular in the renaissance era. Powered by a hand-turned rotating wheel, its haunting drones resonate with echoes from the past. Now, with the innovation of the iPhone, this beautiful instrument has an opportunity for reinvention!

It is available in the Apple appstore now for ONLY £1.99

www.hurdygurdyapp.com

(I hope you don't mind this very shameless plug! Perhaps if it is a success I will be able to own one of the real things one day!)

Thankyou for reading,

Abigail Sanders 

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 6:14 AM, Paul Howland <peho...@gmail.com> wrote:
Just stumbled across this app for when you need a pocket-sized gurdy to keep you company:  HurdyGurdyApp

Enjoy!

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Augusto de Ornellas Abreu

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Dec 21, 2011, 4:39:58 AM12/21/11
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Neil Brook's review:

----

Hi , Just bought this and it seems very full of bugs. Woodworm I can cope with on gurdies but not this kind.

I am using ipod touch 4.3.5 

The first screen works though it is disappointing that you can only create 1 buzz per revolution. It would be so much better to have a slider to determine speed and then the capacity to tap the screen for the rhythm.

Then you get this weird noise when you turn the ipod sideways and the "keyboard" is revealed. A single diatonic octave is not really worth having as you can't even change the drone pitch to use other modes. It really needs accidental notes to play at least the minor keys.

The other facility,  "song selection" is presumably supposed to let you accompany the 3 tunes with trompette. That function does not work. rotating the ipod does nothing.

I appreciate it's only a £1.99 app but it's actually seriously overpriced at that. 

Best regards

Neil Brook 

Felicia Dale

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Dec 21, 2011, 11:38:43 PM12/21/11
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Hm. Dang- I just bought this app and it's downloading now.

Oh, well- it's not very expensive! I won't mind having more of Steve Tyler's playing around to listen to, that's for sure.

Felicia.

Felicia Dale

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Dec 21, 2011, 11:43:28 PM12/21/11
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Sigh... not very good app but I suppose it's good for a laugh. Neil's review is entirely accurate. Also, the keys sound like a piano or electric organ. Oh, well.

Felicia.
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