Famous people and places in central france: musicians, writers, artists, poets, historical figures

Gaston Rivière was born in St Jeanvrin near Châteaumeillant in the Cher in 1909. Famous for his skills with the hurdy-gurdy - he was probably one of the only people to make a successful career of playing this traditional Berry instrument. He created over 100 songs and dances and recorded several records and even became a radio "star". After the war he spent many years touring France and Europe. He also created his own workshop where he repaired and made hurdy-gurdys, a collection which is visible today in the Museum of Popular Music in Montluçon.

Gaston was the link between the old and the new generations of players, the professor to hundreds of students who hold him in the highest regard - he dedicated 80 years of his life to his music.

Other acclaimed hurdy-gurdy players of the Berry include: Patrick Bouffard, who is also a solo champion at the annual St. Chartier festival of hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe music; and Gilles Chabenat who won first place in the annual hurdy-gurdy players’ competition at St. Chartier in 1979 and 1981. He is now a main-player in a new generation who have mastered the hurdy-gurdy as a traditional instrument and are moving it into the 21st century. His book, 'Musiques Pour Vielle à Roue' (1998) is "required" reading by all hurdy-gurdy players. His music has been recorded both as a solo artist and with other musicians.

For an article on the origins of the Hurdy Gurdy please click here.

A Brief History Of The Hurdy Gurdy

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