Album lore

Grands maîtres de la vielle à roue (France) collects a series of 22 pieces performed by Valentín Clastrier, a distinguished hurdy-gurdy player, and was released in 1987 on Naïve Jazz/world. The album presents an austere but focused exploration of the hurdy-gurdy’s timbral range, reflecting both traditional French folk idioms and avant-garde approaches to the instrument. The featured track “Madranque” exemplifies Clastrier’s command of drone and melody, offering a textured and rhythmic interplay that is emblematic of the instrument’s lineage in rural France.This record stands as a particular artifact within its niche, capturing a moment when the hurdy-gurdy was reclaimed from obscurity and reimagined by contemporary practitioners. While its audience remains specialized—Last.fm data notes under 400 listeners—the resonance of Clastrier’s technique and the album’s precise execution continues to inform collectors and musicians attuned to the hurdy-gurdy’s idiosyncratic voice.

Album lore

Grands maîtres de la vielle à roue (France) collects a series of 22 pieces performed by Valentín Clastrier, a distinguished hurdy-gurdy player, and was released in 1987 on Naïve Jazz/world. The album presents an austere but focused exploration of the hurdy-gurdy’s timbral range, reflecting both traditional French folk idioms and avant-garde approaches to the instrument. The featured track “Madranque” exemplifies Clastrier’s command of drone and melody, offering a textured and rhythmic interplay that is emblematic of the instrument’s lineage in rural France.This record stands as a particular artifact within its niche, capturing a moment when the hurdy-gurdy was reclaimed from obscurity and reimagined by contemporary practitioners. While its audience remains specialized—Last.fm data notes under 400 listeners—the resonance of Clastrier’s technique and the album’s precise execution continues to inform collectors and musicians attuned to the hurdy-gurdy’s idiosyncratic voice.