What Is a Hurdy Gurdy? – Meaning, Music & Parts
A hurdy-gurdy may sound like a strange piece of clothing or a carnival ride, but it is actually a musical instrument! Find out more about this unique Renaissance instrument in this lesson.
Hurdy-Gurdy Meaning
A hurdy-gurdy is unique musical instrument that was popular during the European Renaissance era. Loosely related to the modern-day violin, the hurdy-gurdy has a nasally, bright sound, a buzzing timbre, and drone strings. It is played by turning a wheel with one hand and operating a keyboard with the other to change pitch.
The hurdy-gurdy.
Hurdy-gurdy.
Hurdy-Gurdy Parts
The hurdy-gurdy is also called a wheel fiddle because it uses a wheel instead of a bow to produce sound. Early hurdy-gurdies had a box-shaped body, but later models had a more pear-like shape.
Diagram showing the standard parts of a hurdy-gurdy.
Diagram of hurdy-gurdy.
Some parts of the hurdy-gurdy can be most easily understood in relation to the violin. The hurdy-gurdy wheel functions like a violin bow by rubbing against the strings from underneath. To change pitch, a miniature keyboard is attached to the neck of the hurdy-gurdy that pushes on little wedge-shaped pieces of wood called tangents, which is why they are called melody strings.
Unlike the violin, a standard feature on the hurdy-gurdy is the addition of drone strings. These strings do not typically change pitch and are not used for playing a melody. Their main function is to produce a constant background sound while the instrument is operating, much like the way bagpipes have a constant drone sound.
Hurdy-gurdies also have a unique buzzing timbre that is created by a small piece of wood called a buzzing bridge that is loosely attached to the highest drone string, which is called the trompette. One end of the buzzing bridge is attached to the instrument, and the other end is free to vibrate against the body of the instrument, creating a characteristic buzzing sound. In modern instruments, an additional device called a tirant can be used to control the amount of buzzing.
Hurdy-Gurdy Origins and History
The hurdy-gurdy evolved from Middle Eastern bowed string instruments. During the late Medieval Era, an early version of the hurdy-gurdy called an organistrum first appeared.
The organistrum was larger than the hurdy-gurdy and required two people to operate it: one to turn the wheel and another to push the keys. Over time, a new type of key mechanism was invented that was much easier to operate. The instrument was made smaller so that one person could easily reach the keyboard, and, combined with the new key mechanism, the hurdy-gurdy was born.
Development and Decline
The hurdy-gurdy first appeared in the late Medieval era and gained popularity during the Renaissance, a time period that lasted from 1450 – 1600 C.E. It was during this era that the instrument evolved into a standard form. Many of the hurdy-gurdy’s features have Middle Eastern roots, including the drone strings and the buzzing sound, both of which were probably brought back from the Middle East during the Crusades and through east-west trade routes.
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