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. 1

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

  1. Wiki article

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8 Comments

  1. 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. 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 😛

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