Hurdy Gurdy

This composite instrument, the body dating back to the 17th century and carved from a single block of English beech has a birch table. The head and key box are by the French maker Francois Louvet who presumably restored and added to this ancient instrument following irrevocable damage suffered in the 18th century.*

*From a sign next to the Hurdy Gurdy

11 Comments CherryPie on Jun 25th 2020

11 Responses to “The Hurdy Gurdy”

  1. Mark in Mayenne says:

    I heard one of those things being played very well, one time, and it wasn’t too bad.

  2. Sean Jeating says:

    Ah, this kind of hurdy gurdy is new to me. When coming here I had another picture in my mind. And the last piece of Schubert’s “Winterreise” in my ears – The Hurdy Gurdy Man: Back of the village stands a hurdy-gurdy man, cranking his instrument with frozen fingers. His begging bowl is always empty; no one listens, and the dogs growl at him. But his playing never stops. “Strange old man. Shall I come with you? Will you play your hurdy-gurdy to accompany my songs?”

  3. shabana says:

    unfamiliar yet so elegant looking musical instrument dear Cheri
    i would love to hear it

  4. The Yum List says:

    I would love to hear how it sounds.

    • Bernard from Bucks says:

      Dear Yum yum,
      Try that link to YouTube in my comment above. I expect the one in the museum is in need of TLC before it would play.
      Regards
      Bernard.