Lira Korbowa II - buzzDog

"buzzDog" library is dedicated entirely to delivering the percussive aspect of a hurdy-gurdy.

Its main elements are the time-synchronised loops of trompette - also called chien (fr. "dog") - a small wooden bridge, resting on the soundboard with merely a pressure of a string, without being permanently attached or glued. The technique required to induce a rhythmical vibration against the soundboard relies on sudden attacks (accents) while turning the wheel. A trompette string is usually tuned in unison with a melodic string, but its pitch is constant.

This mechanism originated from the late medieval period when Hurdy-gurdy was considered to be missing that percussive element needed for dance music. Necessity is the mother of invention thou. Trompette is to be found only in a hurdy-gurdy.

Loops are recorded in 80, and 120 BPM and variations of rhythmical patterns are spread across two to four velocity layers. All loops are using Time Machine Pro, so they are easily syncing the tempo with your host.

Loop patches are also divided into square (2, 4), triangular (3, 6) and pentagonal time signatures. Why not cranking up (pun intended) the tempo to 240 and play 2/4 over the 4/4? For all those bored with regular rhythms, I added my personal favourite: the 5/8 beat. A 'preview' patch includes all-time signatures across the keyboard for those who like to bend, chop, and break the pattern.

The Loop also delivers something that cannot be easily achieved on a single hurdy-gurdy: the trompette string, tuned initially in G, has been extended to include all twelve notes. So to play a chord using trompette sound, you need at least three hurdy-players with each one tuned differently or you can just drop a coin for the buzzDog.

No mirrors, no smoke - percussion sounds obtained from knocking, bending, stretching, turning, squeezing, and bouncing bits and pieces of the instrument. Very unorthodox, and if you are a purist, you should stay away from this bit.

All the sounds are very organic - delivering the very essence of structural frailty of a hurdy-gurdy - so many things could have gone wrong during recording this! Luckily, all I lost was only one string...

While most of those sounds will deliver a unique percussion kit, the SFX section is nothing like your grandma's hurdy-gurdy: samples folder contains files with whimsical names such as "angry donkey", "panting dog", or "techno bee", and so are the sounds: a box of unearthly delights and noisy creatures.

Have you ever dreamt about your own Steampunk Hurdy-gurdy? This is it.

I wish you all a lot of fun with the "buzzDog"!

Until the next instalment.