# The Mummer's Dance **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949 "2007-12-14T02:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/1 "2007-12-14T02:27:09Z")
In [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK-Pi-Dgsfk) of Loreena McKennitt’s The Mummer’s Dance, there is a strange instrument being played. They don’t show very often in the clip, but you can see it in the background. It looks like a guitar with a crank on the end. It’s visible at 1:25, 3:25, 3:44 and 3:58 on the clip. What is that instrument? ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/2 "2007-12-14T02:38:38Z")
It’s a [Hurdy Gurdy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hurdy_gurdy). ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/3 "2007-12-14T03:55:52Z")
Darn, I thought that this would be a discussion of the [Mummer’s Strut](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummer%27s_Parade). ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/4 "2007-12-14T08:32:17Z")
A [lute?](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.civilization.ca/arts/opus/images/opus42b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.civilization.ca/arts/opus/opus420e.html&h=455&w=800&sz=68&hl=nl&start=12&um=1&tbnid=XwhiQGsUeh8tQM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlute%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dnl%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Dnl%26sa%3DN) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/5 "2007-12-14T08:47:44Z")
In concert, Loreena’s arrangements include plenty of hurdy-gurdy. To me it sounds like a whole hive of bees trained to buzz sweetly in harmony. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/6 "2007-12-14T14:46:25Z")
A hurdy-gurdy well played is a feast for the ears. The same instrument, however, in the hands of anything less than a virtuoso, sounds like a clutch of cats in heat…in a blender. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/7 "2007-12-14T16:51:30Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] In [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK-Pi-Dgsfk) of Loreena McKennitt’s The Mummer’s Dance, there is a strange instrument being played. They don’t show very often in the clip, but you can see it in the background. It looks like a guitar with a crank on the end. It’s visible at 1:25, 3:25, 3:44 and 3:58 on the clip. What is that instrument? [/QUOTE] I have nothing important to add, I am just amazed and pleased to meet other people who like Loreena. I don’t think I have ever met anyone else who is even aware of her, let alone likes her. Awesome. I have always loved that song. I remember the video from about 10 years ago, and about 4-5 years ago I rediscovered her and bought a couple of her albums. I had to download the single version of the Mummer’s Dance though, since the album version is different. I love both versions though. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/8 "2007-12-14T16:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=Kizarvexius] A hurdy-gurdy well played is a feast for the ears. The same instrument, however, in the hands of anything less than a virtuoso, sounds like a clutch of cats in heat…in a blender. [/QUOTE] That made me look up some youtube examples, and oh-boy are you right! [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cKuOZo1jc&feature=related) is a You-tubelink to a professional concert of two hurdygurdy’s. And [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cKuOZo1jc&feature=related) is someone playing it, cats-in-the-blender-style. Seems the hurdy-gurdy is the string-equivalent of what bagpipes and organs are for wind-instruments. Cool, I didn’t know this instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/9 "2007-12-14T17:14:30Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] I have nothing important to add, I am just amazed and pleased to meet other people who like Loreena. I don’t think I have ever met anyone else who is even aware of her, let alone likes her. Awesome. [/QUOTE] Amusingly, about seven or eight years ago I was looking to pick up Lori McKenna’s first CD (_Paper Wings and Halo_), and everyone would ask me “Do you mean Loreena McKennit?” Of course, this was just after _“The Mummer’s Dance”_ had charted. As I recall, she recorded one version of the song for her CD, but remixed it for an EP, and that’s the one that caught on. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/10 "2007-12-14T17:22:33Z")
[QUOTE=Plynck] As I recall, she recorded one version of the song for her CD, but remixed it for an EP, and that’s the one that caught on. [/QUOTE] Yeah, the single version was different; it was more upbeat. Does anyone know any albums out there that have this version? One of hers or a compilation album or whatever. I did download it a long time ago (er…don’t ask if it was legally or not) but if I could find it on an album I would buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/11 "2007-12-14T17:38:33Z")
The CD version was mellow and flowing. In concert, she plays it much louder and faster, more like hard rock. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/12 "2007-12-14T17:40:27Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] I have nothing important to add, I am just amazed and pleased to meet other people who like Loreena. I don’t think I have ever met anyone else who is even aware of her, let alone likes her. Awesome. [/QUOTE] I went and saw her in concert about a month and a half ago. It was wonderful! I think it was nearly sold out also, I didn’t notice empty seats offhand. And yup, it’s a hurdy gurdy. She introduced the player. During the concert I did notice a somewhat annoying undertone to it though. Like an annoying hum. It wasn’t really noticeable most of the time but with the acoustics in the Jubilee I could almost feel it at times (I think when the cranking slowed). It’s not noticeable on the cds. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/13 "2007-12-14T23:49:16Z")
[QUOTE=Johanna] The CD version was mellow and flowing. In concert, she plays it much louder and faster, more like hard rock. [/QUOTE] Her recent live album “Nights from the Alhambra” is awesome. I recommend it to any fans who haven’t heard it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/14 "2007-12-15T00:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cKuOZo1jc&feature=related) is a You-tubelink to a professional concert of two hurdygurdy’s. And [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cKuOZo1jc&feature=related) is someone playing it, cats-in-the-blender-style. [/QUOTE] That’s either funny-sarcastic or funny-accidental, but either way, I was amused. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/15 "2007-12-15T02:41:34Z")
[The Lady of Shallot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU_Tn-HxULM&feature=related) uses some of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/16 "2007-12-15T09:09:05Z")
[QUOTE=Bites When Provoked] That’s either funny-sarcastic or funny-accidental, but either way, I was amused. 😃 [/QUOTE] Oops. Coding mistake. [Here are the cats in the blender.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBRA74HrFQ&feature=related) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/17 "2007-12-15T09:49:15Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] I have nothing important to add, I am just amazed and pleased to meet other people who like Loreena. I don’t think I have ever met anyone else who is even aware of her, let alone likes her. Awesome. [/QUOTE] I’ve been a fan since 1989’s Parallel Dreams and got to meet her once after a concert. I love [my signed poster](http://wretchawry.com/gallery/HomePhotos/photos/tori2.jpg). She’s a very very sweet person. (getting away from Loreena for a minute…) For those who love the sound of the Hurdy Gurdy, the band Muzsikas are masters of it. Here’s one [YouTube video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dbKt7kXUbk&feature=related), though it’s just the music, not an actual video (and it’s only used in the first part of this particular song). I love them, but I especially love them when [Marta Sebestyen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWkGfwwbrq0&feature=related) is singing with them (that’s a live clip that’s not ideal and doesn’t convey their greatness, but it does have the hurdy gurdy in it). I first saw Marta and Muzsikas live at a tiny club in Chicago and it’s still one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. The hurdy gurdy live and up close sends chills up the spine, as if Marta’s voice alone isn’t enough to do that. Lovers of the hurdy gurdy, and amazing female singers owe it to themselves to get [THIS album](http://www.amazon.com/Muzsikas-M%C3%A1rta-Sebesty%C3%A9n/dp/B00000061H/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197710124&sr=1-6) with Muzsikas!! That’s an absolute MUST HAVE album. Marta solo is pretty spectacular too. After that album, get [this one](http://www.amazon.com/Apocrypha-M%C3%A1rta-Sebesty%C3%A9n/dp/B000000620/ref=pd_sim_m_title_2). ([this song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3iXmSJXoFY&feature=related) is from Apocrypha, which is not generally as “traditional” as the first album). [Here’s a song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WYVr-qdAXU&feature=related) on her Best Of that’s on Apocrypha, but in a very different version (I like the Apocrapha version best, but this is great too). ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/18 "2007-12-15T15:50:50Z")
Hee hee! [I asked this very question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345154) a few years ago! Love her music. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/19 "2007-12-15T15:59:25Z")
Once, when I was driving down to North Carolina to visit a friend, I pulled off at some random rest area in West Virginia (IIRC) to stretch my legs. Down at one end of the rest area was this guy cranking a box, and music was coming out of it! It had a sort of gypsy/slavic dance flavor to it. I stared a little bit, but couldn’t work up the courage to go ask what it was about. He didn’t seem to be busking–just putting on a little impromptu concert there for all the rest area patrons. (I think I was the only one paying attention.) I didn’t figure out what it was until I got home. Unlike the ones pictured on youtube and wikipedia, his was very plain–it seemed to be just a long, rectangular wooden box with a crank and some keys. It was pretty neat, though–I wish I hadn’t been too shy to talk to him. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949/20 "2007-12-15T17:18:29Z")
I remember Sting played a hurdy-gurdy during that song from Cold Mountain at the Oscars a few years ago. A lot of people were asking about that, too. My husband has a hurdy-gurdy. It sounds _very_ cat-in-the-blender-ish. I think it partly depends on the instrument, too. (It’s a cheap one. He does play other instruments well.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mummers-dance/429949.md?page=2)