Bagpipe and Hurdy Gurdy Music in France

The hurdy gurdy or vielle-a-roue is essentially a mechanical violin, with keys or buttons instead of a finger board, this comprises of a curved, oval body, a set of keys and a curved handle, which is turned and connected to a wheel which bows the cord that are stopped by the keys. There is a moveable bridge, a variable number of drones and hidden sympathetic cords, all of which can also affect the sound, simpler ways of the hurdy gurdy are also initiated in Spain, Russia and Hungary.

source of picture: rceezwhatitis.blogspot.com

The bagpipe is initiated in a wide array of ways in France, the cabrette and grande cornemuse from Auvergne and Berry are the most popular. These forms are found at least as far back as the 17^th century. Prominent bagpipers include Frederic Paris, Bernard Blanc and Philippe Prieur, as well as bandleader Jean Blanchard of La Grand bande de Cornemuses and Quintette de Cornemuses. Frederic Paris is also known as a member of the duo Chabenat-Paris, a prominent duo who use elements like combined polyphonic bands and songs based on the bourree. Bernard Blanc and Jean Blanchard, along with Eric Montbel from Lyons, were among the artists who initiated the basis of La Bamboche and Le Grand Rouge. It was these two groups that did more than anymore to revitalize the folks of Central France during the 1970s folk revival. The festival of St. Chartier, a music festival held annually near Chateauroux, has been a main point for the music of Auvergne and Limousin.

The provinces of Morvan and Nivernais have produced some folk musicians such as Les Menetreirs du Morvan and Faubourg de Boignard respectively. The Nivernais collector Achille Millien was also notable in the early part of the 20^th century.