2006-11-19 23:47:10 · 11 answers · asked by mim 666 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
A hurdy gurdy (or hurdy-gurdy) is a stringed musical instrument with several strings arranged so that they can be played simultaneously by a rotating wheel covered with rosin. It is essentially a mechanical violin. This method of producing sound is similar to string instruments such as the violin, but because the hurdy gurdy produces several notes together, with a melody accompanied by chords made by "drone strings", its sound is perhaps more comparable to that of bagpipes. For this reason, the hurdy gurdy is often accompanied by the bagpipes, particularly in French and contemporary Hungarian folk music.
2006-11-19 23:54:57 · answer #1 · answered by johninmelb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Pajot family built hurdy gurdies in Jenzat, France from 1795-1939.
This large lute-body hurdy gurdy is the most popular of all the types I make. It is based on my own instrument, made by Pajot in 1841. This type is most commonly used for folk music, and is loud enough when playing for traditional French dancing. it can be tuned to play in C or G. in the Bourbonnais tuning all the strings are tuned in octaves of D, and this enables it to be played in G or D.
My "Pajot" hurdy gurdies have the traditional carved head, sympathetic strings, and decoration if required. Woods available are sycamore, walnut and mahogany, usually with a spruce soundboard
2006-11-20 16:51:18 · answer #2 · answered by S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A hurdy gurdy was a hand turned organ on wheels used rolls for the music and normally used to collect money from passers by
2006-11-20 08:01:35 · answer #3 · answered by jonahdad2006 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As I understand it. A hurdy gurdy is a hand held drill, powered by hand. It had a geared ring that you would turn by hand. That would, turn the shift of the drill, thus giving you the spinning you would need to drill into soft material. The drill bits where stored in the wooden handle. If you would look at the point of the drill bit it would almost look like a butterfly.
2006-11-20 08:00:49 · answer #4 · answered by fireman1201 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Hurdy-Gurdy is an automatc musical instrument, like a pianola or fairground organ, operated by turning a handle at one side of the instrument. Commonly used as a busking instrument in times past.
2006-11-20 07:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by Vernix Lanugo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A hurdy gurdy (or hurdy-gurdy) is a stringed musical instrument with several strings arranged so that they can be played simultaneously by a rotating wheel covered with rosin. It is essentially a mechanical violin.
2006-11-20 07:54:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Another name for the version wheeled around the streets is a "barrel organ" - it looked like a barrel, with a big crank-handle for the operator to turn.
2006-11-20 08:37:00 · answer #7 · answered by andrew f 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's also another (slightly racist) term for the Swedish language as made famous by the 'Swede speak' of the Swedish chef in the Muppet Show.
2006-11-20 08:05:07 · answer #8 · answered by Edit_Cat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a musical instrument - check out www.hurdy-gurdy.co.uk
2006-11-20 07:50:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a musical box with a hand crank usually depicted with a "dancing monkey".
2006-11-20 07:49:05 · answer #10 · answered by viewAskew 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋