Hurdy gurdy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Louvet Drehleier

A hurdy gurdy is a stringed musical instrument played by a rosin-covered wheel. It dates back to the Middle Ages. The hurdy gurdy can create three types of sounds. The melody is played on melody strings by pressing keys on the side of the instrument. These press tangents against the strings. Hurdy gurdies can also have drone strings, which play one note continuously. Many hurdy gurdies also have a buzzing bridge. Turning the wheel faster causes this to make a rhythmic buzzing sound.

Images for kids

  • Organistrumsantiago20060414

    Elders playing an organistrum Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

  • 0 Joueur de vielle à roue à Saint-Jean-des-Ollières

    Hurdy-gurdy player in Saint-Jean-des-Ollières, Puy-de-Dôme (France)

  • FOURNEL(1887) p051 Fig.25-27

    Vagabonds with hurdy-gurdy (1887 drawing)

  • Elf Fantasy Fair 2010 hurdy gurdy

    Hurdy-gurdy player

  • SzerenyiTekero

    Two Hungarian-style hurdy-gurdies (tekerőlants)

  • MuseuMusicaBCN 8963

    Hurdy-gurdy in Museu de la Música de Barcelona

  • Hurdyparts

    Major parts of a modern French-type hurdy-gurdy

  • WheelTangents

    Wheel and tangents on a French type hurdy-gurdy with three chanterelles (melody strings). The keyboard is visible on the right side of the picture.

  • FrenchBuzzingBridgeSystem

    Entire buzzing bridge system for a French-style instrument, with part labels

  • SK Ninera

    Slovak-style hurdy-gurdy (Ninera) made and played by Tibor Koblicek

  • FrenchBuzzingBridge

    French type buzzing bridge

  • TekeroBassBuzzing

    Hungarian type buzzing bridge (on a bass tekerő)


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Hurdy gurdy Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.