What instruments are played on Lou Reed/VU's "Venus in Furs"? [Archive]

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Sampiro

07-11-2006, 02:14 AM

Is it a sitar? What's the odd "echoing" twang instrument?

Not earthshattering, just curious.

(If not familiar with the song it's the one on my myspace (http://www.myspace.com/jsampiro ).)

thelurkinghorror

07-11-2006, 02:41 AM

Just a viola AFAIK. I think it's amplified or overdubbed or something.

Small Clanger

07-11-2006, 04:36 AM

John Cale studied* classical viola, you wouldn't know it from that record. And the viola part in Heroin is one static note all the way through. Great songs tho'

*supposedly

don't ask

07-11-2006, 05:09 AM

I believe it is a Sarinda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarinda), the wikipedia entry links to some examples. The original versions of Venus in Furs, Heroin, Waiting for My Man etc were recorded in Cales apartment using guitar, viola and sarinda. The outtakes are available on Peel Slowly and See (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47D1FDB46A87F20C6913348C6AD77D20ED342F38250234558C0961C7CB51963C46EE9DED2B0FB6AB679AFF9 62A2500FD4C0EC5EECAD1B&sql=10:yj9ks30ua3dg).