hurdy gurdy

Sarah and I went to a cool dinner party last Saturday. Among the interesting conversations, the words “hurdy gurdy” came up.

My only knowledge of the phrase was that creepy old 1960’s Donovan song.

As it turns out, a hurdy gurdy is an 18th century string instrument, sort of an odd cross between an organ grinder and a violin. 1Wiki article

hurdy gurdy

Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity.
‘Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Comes singing songs of love

Footnotes


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Comments

8 responses to “hurdy gurdy”

  1. Sarah Avatar

    I find it fascinating that the crank operates the round, circular bow, which produces noise against the strings. An ingenious contraption- so how do I get one? Do you think that people get rid of their old hurdy gurdies on eBay?

  2. Jules Avatar

    Cool dinner parties, eh? Enjoy it guys! *sigh*

    Thanks Rob, for the history lesson.

  3. Carl V. Avatar

    If that don’t look like a piece of science fiction I don’t know what does!

  4. Ciera Avatar

    I’ve never seen anything like it. It is strange looking.

  5. Angela Avatar

    the only way i’d get to attend a dinner party is if i hosted it.

  6. Carl V. Avatar

    Sounds like a plan Angela, are the invitations in the mail? ๐Ÿ˜†

  7. Angela Avatar

    if you guys would actually come, i sure would. lol

  8. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    If anyone want to buy a Hurdy Gurdy the man to go to is Neil Brook in England. He has some wonderful ones on his website but some of them are really expensive — $2-3,000. You could sing wonderful songs of love with those ๐Ÿ˜›

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