Requiem for a Hurdy-Gurdy

July 7, 2017 10:17 AM

Alexis Vacher covers Clint Mansell's "Lux Aeterna" from Requiem for a Dream (a/k/a That String Piece That's Been In A Million Movie Trailers)...on a hurdy-gurdy.
posted by Sokka shot first (14 comments total)

Very nice!
posted by Chitownfats at 10:22 AM on July 7, 2017

Not to be a killjoy, obviously this is very neat--but I am SO sick of this music... it really needs a kazoo cover, to take the piss out of it.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 10:31 AM on July 7, 2017 [1 favorite]

A versatile instrument, that hurdy-gurdy.
posted by adamrice at 10:34 AM on July 7, 2017 [2 favorites]

It doesn't matter what else this song is used in, it always makes me think of Tappy Tibbons and that's never conducive to the tone people try to set with the music.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:57 AM on July 7, 2017 [2 favorites]

Now where have most people probably seen a hurdy-gurdy? Oh, that's right.

Butt wait there's more.
posted by lagomorphius at 11:36 AM on July 7, 2017 [2 favorites]

A versatile instrument, that hurdy-gurdy.

That's what struck me.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 11:56 AM on July 7, 2017

Also, behold a spunky, funky hurdy gurdy.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 11:59 AM on July 7, 2017

Hello!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:09 PM on July 7, 2017 [5 favorites]

The opening credits music for Black Sails (my new favorite show on Hulu after Handmsids Tale) is done on the hurdy gurdy. Its perfect for pirate stuff!
posted by WalkerWestridge at 12:16 PM on July 7, 2017 [1 favorite]

I am SO sick of this music...

Fortunately, there are many other Lux Aeternae to choose from.

Here are some I like:
György Ligeti
Morten Lauridsen
George Crumb
Erik Westberg
Terje Rypdal

(Try that on an hurdy gurdy, Colonel. Just try.)
posted by Herodios at 12:18 PM on July 7, 2017 [2 favorites]

If you're intrigued by the hurdy-gurdy, you might like Greg Jolivet's work. Greg is the current hurdy-gurdy player with Blowzabella. Their previous hurdy-gurdy man was Nigel Eaton, also very much worth checking out. And if you want to see the instrument pushed to new levels of virtuosity and expressiveness, try Matthias Loibner. The nearest hurdy-gurdy gets to pop (Wendy and Lisa aside) is probably Patty Gurdy.
posted by pipeski at 3:08 PM on July 7, 2017 [4 favorites]

From what I remember, and admittedly I've never been in a position where I had the fortitude to watch Requiem for a Dream, but in the movie Lux Aeterna is used deeply sarcastically, right? I mean, it's a movie about people whose addictions are destroying them, and from what I remember this song is used when their delusional state completely consumes them.
posted by Merus at 6:18 AM on July 8, 2017

I love me some Lux and the hurdy gurdy is a cool instrument... but if you're going to put something through that many ableton filters you might as well be rattling a stick in a bucket
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:28 AM on July 8, 2017 [2 favorites]

Came in to basically share what pipeski shared, links to great players, such as Matthias Loibner who is truly one of the top players (the top one I would say but I am biased I suppose as I have kown him for a long time, and certainly Greg Jolivet and Nigel Eaton are superb, also Giles Chabenat is definitely worth checking out and Cliff Stapleton just to give two more), and just want to supplement with some female virtousos - Tobie Miller and Anne-Lise Foy come to mind.
posted by 15L06 at 7:38 AM on July 10, 2017 [2 favorites]