The Hand-Cranked Heartbeat of My Culture | Iryna Muha | TEDxBrayford Pool

Hurdy-Gurdy: History and Ukrainian Tradition

Key Concepts: Hurdy-gurdy (heredigi/lera), organistrum, Lerni, kobzars, bandurists, butt music, Ukrainian folk music tradition, repression of folk musicians, revival of tradition.

History of the Hurdy-Gurdy

• The hurdy-gurdy, also known as heredigi, is a medieval instrument experiencing a modern resurgence in popularity.
• Its early predecessor was the organistrum, a large instrument requiring two players: one to turn the wheel and another to press keys.
• The organistrum was primarily used for religious purposes, particularly Gregorian chants, in medieval Europe.
• The more contemporary form of the hurdy-gurdy is found in records dating back to the 15th century.
• A notable depiction appears in Hieronymus Bosch's triptych, "The Garden of Earthly Delights," specifically in the "Hell" section.
• In Bosch's painting, a blinded bear plays the hurdy-gurdy in a hellish orchestra, directed by a devilish creature reading "butt music" (music written on someone's buttocks).

Ukrainian Hurdy-Gurdy Tradition

• The hurdy-gurdy (lera) arrived in Ukraine around the 17th century from Europe.
• It became popular among blinded traveling musicians (Lerni), who sang religious psalms, kants, and epic ballads called dumas.
• These musicians, also known as kobzars and bandurists, earned their living through their performances.
• Aspiring hurdy-gurdy players underwent a rigorous three-year apprenticeship within professional musician guilds.
• The Ukrainian lera of the 19th century showcases the craftsmanship of the era and provides insight into the instrument's sound at the time.

Repression and Revival

• The hurdy-gurdy tradition in Ukraine persisted until the 1930s.
• The Soviet government repressed Ukrainian folk musicians through imprisonment, persecution, and execution.
• Fifty years of repression nearly extinguished the tradition, as musicians feared playing and passing on their skills.
• Recordings of Ivan Blesuk, one of the last known Ukrainian hurdy-gurdy players, exist.
• Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the hurdy-gurdy tradition began to revive in Ukraine.
• Currently, there are masters crafting beautiful hurdy-gurdies and dedicated musicians preserving and advancing the Ukrainian hurdy-gurdy tradition.

Musical Performances

• The video features two Ukrainian folk songs performed on the hurdy-gurdy.
• The first song is a short, unnamed folk tune.
• The second song is about the "VR to you you might know to you for the min to you for the broadness go from wood".
• The performances also incorporate Ukrainian instrument samples.

Conclusion

The hurdy-gurdy, with its rich history and unique sound, has experienced periods of both prominence and suppression. The video highlights the instrument's journey from medieval Europe to its adoption and near-extinction in Ukraine, followed by a dedicated revival effort. The performances showcase the beauty and cultural significance of the Ukrainian hurdy-gurdy tradition.