Evolutions of the Hurdy-Gurdy Instrument

                                                                    Introduction

For this blog, I decided to go with the hurdy-gurdy instrument. This interesting instrument can be traced as back as the 9th century. Many believe that it originated from the fiddle but there is little to no evidence for this claim. But what exactly is a hurdy-gurdy? Good question. Unfortunately, the answer isn't quite simple. Wikipedia puts it like this:                                                                                                     "...a mechanical string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents—small wedges, typically made of wood—against one or more of the strings to change their pitch. Like most other acoustic stringed instruments, it has a sound board and hollow cavity to make the vibration of the strings audible" (Wikipedia). 

                                                                         Origins

Interestingly enough, no one really knows where it came from. There are hurdy-gurdy's in different countries. To name them would take time but here goes. From Catalonia, it is called the viola de roda, from Galicia and Spain: zanfona, Germany has the drehleier, from Belarus: lira, Bohemia and Moravia has the ninera, Hungary: forgolant, Italy has the ghironda, France has the vielle à roue, the sonsaina in Occitania, and finally the relia in Ukraine. Meanwhile in America and England it is simply known as the hurdy-gurdy. "One must go back to the ninth century to find its origins; it was then called the organistrum, and it was so big that it had to be played simultaneously by two people, one working the wheel and the other the keyboard" (Els Berros de la Cort). Later on it was adapted so only one person was required to play the hurdy-gurdy. 

                                                             History to the Present 

This unique instrument was first considered to be only for refined music. Then, around the 16th century, it changed and jugglers, beggars, and blind people began to pick it up. "In this way the hurdy-gurdy became one of the popular traditional instruments which were not considered suitable for certain types of music" (Els Berros de la Cort). In the 18th century, it underwent some changes when the French court adopted it. Charles Baton, a musician and luthier, gave it an oval shaped body. This attracted important composers such as "Chédeville, Hotteterre, Corrette and Boismortier, who then set about writing refined pieces for the hurdy-gurdy, pieces which were in fact for a standardised instrument" (Els Berros de la Cort). Then, just like that, at the end of the 18th it went back into being overlooked and in the shadows. Violins, violas, cellos, and double basses took over and became what we know now as classical music instruments. But the hurdy-gurdy almost had its chance to be in that category. 

                                                               Shape and Sound

 Aside from precision and number of strings it has, it has not changed much. But as it can be found in many different countries, it is surprising to see how little is has changed. "Different models can be found in many countries all based on the same idea: a body which can vary in size and shape inside of which there is a hub that turns longitudinally. At the point where the hub, which has a wooden wheel in the middle, exits the body there is a handle which cranks the both hub and wheel. This then rubs against the cotton-wrapped strings- the chanter strings, the drones and the mouches – which can vary in number" (Els Berros de la Cort). This design gives the hurdy-gurdy its unique and mysterious sound. The best known design of the hurdy-gurdy is that of the French vielle à roue. 

                                                                Hurdy-Gurdy Songs

Dues to the unique sound that the hurdy-gurdy produces, it's hard to find the right songs to fit it. Luckily, modern day actually has found many different genres to put it in. "Nowadays, hurdy-gurdies are seen in many different musical formations, mainly folk music bands, but also in combination with modern instruments like the guitar and the bass, in which case adjustments to the sonority is required: three microphones and blocks below the chanter strings, drones and mouches" (Els Berros de la Cort). I have loved the hurdy-gurdy, so finding songs on YouTube was not hard.

https://youtu.be/tYrolrI30_c 

This medieval twist to the hurdy-gurdy is quite common as it has that old, Renaissance feel to it. Then there is this song:

https://youtu.be/Ec729nmajwc 

                                                                                Ending.

So, from what we have learned: the hurdy-gurdy has remained quite the same since its origins up to the modern age (except for a few exceptions), few songs can fit the hurdy-gurdy's unique sound, and there are actually many genres that the hurdy-gurdy can be used. I hope this was interesting and that you learned something. Have a nice day.

Resources: 

Els Berros de la Cort. "HURDY-GURDY", Els Berros de la Cort. Date published:Unknown. https://elsberrosdelacort.cat/en/instruments/hurdy-gurdy/   . Accessed on Oct. 11, 2021. 

Gurdy, Patty. "Over the Hills and Far Away", Youtube, Mar. 4, 2018. https://youtu.be/Ec729nmajwc . Accessed on Oct. 11, 2021. 

Vinogradov, Andrey. "Dark Medieval Ballad. Hurdy-Gurdy, Organ Drone and Drum", Youtube. Feb. 24, 2021. https://youtu.be/tYrolrI30_c . Accessed on Oct. 11, 2021. 

Wikipedia. "Hurdy-gurdy", Wikipedia. Oct. 1, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy-gurdy  . Accessed on Oct. 11, 2021.