Valentin Clastrier
French musician Valentin Clastrier is one of the few performers in the world specializing in contemporary music for the hurdy-gurdy; before Clastrier, the instrument was used primarily in the performance of European Medieval and folk musics.
He began his career as a guitarist, and was introduced to the hurdy-gurdy in 1970. His instrument has 27 strings rather than the conventional six.
Since 2006 Clastrier works together with Wolfgang Weichselbaumer
on a new prototype.
Clastrier's strikingly original compositions for the instrument have been recorded, in collaboration with other creative European musicians.
