So I had the piece right, just misspelled the composer. I searched on him now--there seem to be an equal number spelling it wrong as I did.

Sting's instrument did make an audible drone that we could hear (we had the program going through the receiver and a good set of stereo speakers), but there was a subtle pitch change as he played. I doubt he would stand on stage with an instrument he wasn't fully equiped to play, so the changing pitch must have been due to a subtle movement with his left hand? It didn't have to do with the speed of the crank?

SRS