When Karl Riedel bows and plucks the strings of the sound tree, a sonorous, soothing tone spreads out. “Close your eyes,” says Riedel, and his vocal overtone music mixes with the sound of the strings, a relaxing combination to which the instrument maker and musician also mixes the sound of the Shruty Box. Now it becomes almost meditative.
Video: Audio sample by Karl Riedel from Admont
“C sharp is the healing tone”
“It’s just one tone to which the 54 strings of the sound tree – 27 on each side – are tuned: “Tuned to cis”, explains Karl Riedl and says: “The cis is something like the om of music, cis is a Heilton”. Anyone who takes the time and finds the peace and quiet to listen to the tones of the sound tree will agree.
Why do the strings tuned to one tone still sound so multi-toned? “Those are the overtones you hear,” says Riedel. Playing with the strings not only creates the string sound, but also many nuances that we perceive as overtones.
Pythagoras already used the sound tree
The history of his sound tree is a long one: “Pythagoras worked with it two and a half thousand years ago and used it to establish the theory of intervals,” explains Karl Riedel, and to put it simply: “If a string is divided in a ratio of 2:1, this means an increase in the Tones by an octave. Pythagoras said: ‘Music is part of mathematics'”.
Tenor fiddle, stringed psaltery, chalumeau, flute, kantele – these are strange-looking and unusual-sounding instruments that Karl Riedel makes himself. And also the hurdy-gurdy, whose sound almost transports you to the Middle Ages. “I make all the wooden parts myself – mainly from spruce and maple, it’s all handcrafted,” says Riedel. A hurdy-gurdy puts about two weeks of working time into it. And it is no coincidence that his instruments are often used in the medieval scene.
Simple but not easy
“Who buys such instruments?” Karl Riedel is asked – and as if the answer had to be given in person, a Rieder pensioner happens to come by and says: “I have to bring my hurdy-gurdy to you for repair soon!” Now I know who buys such instruments. Rieder acquired the piece a few years ago and thus dedicated himself to playing the hurdy-gurdy. But the game isn’t as simple as it looks, says Rieder. Simple yes, but not easy. Above all, cranking the lyre with the right hand – this corresponds to guiding the bow on the violin – is the challenge. The left hand, on the other hand, operates the row of keys – like on a keyboard – and generates the sequence of notes.
Karl Riedel is exotic at Music Austria, in the midst of many high-gloss instruments and high-tech devices. What he does is not meant for the mainstream. “But I’ve been doing it for 40 years and it’s been good ever since!” he says smiling.
Gallery: This is what awaits you at Music Austria in Ried
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Source: Nachrichten
