The Secret Life of the Hurdy-Gurdy
Field Notes On Playing

ISBN: 978-1-0684248-0-9
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Quentin Budworth
Launch Date: May1st 2025
Pre-Launch copies are available now directly from the author.
Price: UK 24.99 US $35.00 EU €35.00 AUS $45.00 CAN $45.00 + P&P

Ordering is easy! To place an order directly, email me at quentinbudworth@yahoo.com with your postal address and preferred payment method (I can accept PayPal or Direct Bank Transfer), and I will forward payment details. Delivery is within 10-14 days no duty to pay for EU, US, Canadian, or UK customers.

Dimensions: 16.99cm x 24.41 Pages: 245

Summary/Description

This book holds the distilled knowledge, reflections and insights from hurdy-gurdy players engaged with diverse traditions and contemporary practices who have taken the time to write thoughtfully about their hurdy-gurdy playing and have given energy, and knowledge to this endeavour.

The book features a player per chapter who provides insights into musicality, playing technique, theory, practice, pedagogy, performance and social context.

Knowledge is power. This book will delight, enthuse, enlighten and inspire even the most experienced hurdy-gurdy player bringing more power to every reader’s music-making.

The book features writing and interviews with the following players:
Bruno Andersen; Patrick Bouffard; Nicolas Boulerice; Quentin Budworth; Gilles Chabenat; Germán Díaz; Oscar Fernandez; Abel Garcia; Sergio Gonzales; Stephan Groth; Thomas Hoste; Peter Kanssen; Nicolas Koch Simms; Nicholas Konradsen; Matthias Loibner; Michalina Malisz; Scott Marshall; Rafa Martin; Christian Mohr Levisen; Ruben Monteiro; Ariel Ninas; Sam Palmer; Isabelle Pignol; Etienne Pinoteau; Benoît Roblin; Clare Rose; R.T Taylor; Paul Sherwood; Steve Tyler; Pablo Caamiña Ursusson; Mary Vanhoozer and Alex Zwingmann.

The wheel is infinite and life is short. Take time to stand on the shoulders of giants and enter the secret world of the hurdy-gurdy. The insights contained in this book will make you a much better hurdy-gurdy player and musician

By ordering the book directly from the author, you enable a few very good things to happen. You increase the royalty paid to the author and reduce Amazon’s royalty on your purchase (60% after printing costs). You enable me to keep a database of readers for subsequent publications.

Doing this gives a billionaire, Jeff Bezos, a little kick in the shin!

To place an order directly, email me at quentinbudworth@yahoo.com with your postal address and preferred payment method (I can accept PayPal or Direct Bank Transfer), and I will forward payment details.

By doing this, you also give a billionaire, Jeff Bezos, a little kick in the shin!

What the readers say:

‘Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent book. It was really interesting to read about the philosophy and approach to playing the gurdy of such a variety of musicians, and it inspired me to play my gurdy, which is never a bad thing!’
Wolfie Fiddler

‘Hi Quentin, I received the book today. I’ve skimmed through it and think it’s fantastic. Thanks for doing so. Best regards. ‘
Angel de la Calle

‘It’s an excellent book. I learn something new from every chapter!’
Kevin Holland multi-instrumentalist.

‘There’s an immense amount of work there and it’s a credit to you. Thanks also for the occasional name check!’
Neil Brook, Luthier.

‘A fascinating read. Not only for hurdy-gurdy players and other musicians, but with insights from 32 leading players from around the world, for anyone who likes people’s stories. Recommended! Nice one Q!’
Lou Dufy-Howard

Absolutely delighted to be invited by Noelle and Max from GurdyWorld to be a guest on their first podcast, talking about all things Gurdy and the new book. Here’s the link