Read the Wikipedia Article on the Hurdy-Gurdy
The hurdy-gurdy was first mentioned in the 10th century as the organistrum. It was then a church instrument played by two men, one fingering the keys, one turning the wheel. Secular, one-man forms, called symphonia, appeared in the 13th century.
It was fashionable during the reign of Louis XIV as the vielle à roue (“wheel fiddle”) and was played into the 20th century by folk and street musicians, notably in France and eastern Europe.
online texts
- A Brief History Of The Hurdy Gurdy Collected notes by Graham Whyte – Free resource.
- Hurdy-gurdy: Contemporary Destinations By Piotr Nowotnik – requires account with academia.edu.
- Origin of the Hurdy-Gurdy: A Few Comments By Susann Palmer with The Galpin Society Journal – requires access to JSTOR.
- The Form, History, and Classification of the “Tekerőlant” (Hungarian Hurdy-Gurdy) Arle Lommel with The Galpin Society Journal – through Researchgate
- The Hurdy Gurdy in Spain FolkWorld article by Pio Fernandez
- The hurdy-gurdy and the luthiers of Jenzat Digital reissue of a book by Jean-Francois Chassaing, originally published in the 20th century.
- The Hurdy-gurdy: From Pageantry to Peasantry By Samuel A. Nelson – through Researchgate
- The Medieval Organistrum and Symphonia: 1: A Legacy from the East? By Christopher Page with The Galpin Society Journal – requires access to JSTOR.
- The Medieval Organistrum and Symphonia. 2: Terminology By Christopher Page with The Galpin Society Journal – requires access to JSTOR.
Videos
- Hurdy-Gurdy: History and Operation Bernard Jecker
- The Hurdy Gurdy | Down the Rabbit Hole Fredrik Knudsen – known to have a few inaccuracies but still interesting.
- History of the Hurdy Gurdy Scott Gayman Webinar