Dave’s Hurdy Gurdy Banter Page

In an effort to control the overwhelming flood of questions Havalina receives in regard the hurdy gurdy, I am posting “Dave’s Hurdy Gurdy Banter Page” on the Havalina website. Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not creating this banter page for the purpose of indulging my own ego or vanity. The sole purpose of “Dave’s Hurdy Grurdy Banter Page” is to dispel popular ignorance of this fine, curious and often misunderstood instrument. I have arranged the banter in a user-friendly faqs fashion for your reading convenience. Enjoy!

1. What is this bohemian instrument they call the hurdy gurdy and how does the unholy contraption work?

This is a common question, however the hurdy gurdy, or vielle a roué in French, (meaning fiddle with a wheel) is not easily explained. It is a stringed instrument that has a wheel to vibrate the strings and keys to alter their pitch. The instrument consists of a sound box that is often rectangular, lute shaped or guitar shaped. A wheel is mounted upon an axle that rotates inside the sound box when turned by a crank. The wheel protrudes out of a hole in the sound box and when turned rubs against strings that are stretched across the instrument. On one side of the wheel the strings are supported by a tall bridge and on the other side of the wheel they pass through a key box which house keys that, when pushed by the player, touch the strings and change their pitch. A player turns the crank with one hand and manipulates the keys with the other. Hurdy gurdies also have several “drone” strings. Unlike the “chanter” strings that pass through the key box and can change pitch, the drones sound only one pitch (usually the root or fifth of the key one is playing in). Due to the drones, the sound of a hurdy gurdy often reminds people of other drone instruments such as the bagpipes. On most instruments, one of the drones is called a “trompette” and has a special function. The trompette uses a movable bridge called a “chien” or dog that buzzes when the instrument is cranked. A player can control the duration and frequency of the buzz by exerting variable pressure on the crank and thus accent certain beats or create syncopated rhythms.

2. I want to know about the “sordid past” of the hurdy gurdy!

Sordid past indeed! The history of the hurdy gurdy is a tale of honor and beauty! But very well, if you must know, I will briefly indulge you with the gossip and controversy that have surrounded the hurdy gurdy’s past. Hurdy gurdies are most common to the regions that are now France and Hungary, and the development of the instrument occurred greatly in these areas. The first hurdy gurdy like instrument was called an organistrum and was a six-foot long hurdy gurdy. Two individuals were required to play an instrument of this size, one cranked and one manipulated the keys. It was used for a period of time in the medieval church but its use declined as organs grew in popularity. Eventually it was booted-out entirely and the church is still paying the price today for excommunicating this instrument of beauty! The hurdy gurdy first found a home outside the church in the form of the synphonie, a smaller sized hurdy gurdy for a single player. It had a rectangular shaped sound box and a diatonic keyboard, capable of playing the modal music of the day. Since it was played by one person, the hurdy gurdy became a popular instrument for itinerant musicians and gradually became associated with the dregs of society. Called the “lyra mendicorum,” or beggar’s lyre, the hurdy gurdy was for centuries considered an instrument played by the lower classes. During the 19th century it was even played by ladies practicing a not-so-acceptable business of the street. These women also brought the hurdy gurdy over to North America during the time of the gold rush. If you would like to see a hurdy gurdy in hell, you’re in for a treat. Consult Hieronymous Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” for a depiction of the hurdy gurdy as a centerpiece amongst crowds of naked revelers and demons. Despite this unfavorable reputation, the hurdy gurdy was yet an instrument destined for greatness. Unable to resist its seducing charms, the French aristocracy of the 17th century embraced the hurdy gurdy. During this period, skilled instrument makers further developed and refined the instrument to suit delicate tastes of the nobility. In fact, noble ladies often were painted while embracing their hurdy gurdies. The hurdy gurdies of this era are usually lute-backed or guitar-shaped, and were fitted with chromatic keyboards, capable of playing baroque music. The dog was also a feature found on these hurdy gurdies. Many hurdy gurdies from this era exist today, unlike the organistrum and synphonie, which only survive in illuminations and descriptions. Eventually the hurdy gurdy lost favor with the French court and became an instrument of the folk once again. The hurdy gurdy continued in use among common people especially in the Auvergne region of France and in Berry, east of the Auvergne. Both of these areas have distinctive styles of hurdy gurdies and folk music. The instrument was often played with the musette (the French bagpipe), and other reedy sounding instruments such as the accordion, bombard and crumhorn. However, as chromatic instruments and more tonally complex music gained popularity, the hurdy gurdy became in a sense obsolete, being unable to easily modulate to different keys or create complex chords. Until a folk revival that swept France about thirty years ago, interest in the hurdy gurdy was scarce. Since that time however, fascination with the instrument has grown as have the numbers of craftsmen and players. The festival of St. Chartier in central France is an annual mecca for instrument builders of all kinds throughout Europe. Eve n in North America interest in the hurdy gurdy is growing. The Over the Water Hurdy Gurdy Festival in Washington State is a testament to the fact that the hurdy gurdy is alive and well.

3. Didn’t Donovan play a hurdy gurdy on his song, “Hurdy Gurdy Man?”

Listen, getting information for the hurdy gurdy from Donovan, is like getting your news from Entertainment Tonight. The truth is that Donovan didn’t use a hurdy gurdy on that song, even though he sings about it. In fact, Donovan hadn’t even seen a hurdy gurdy until after he recorded the song. Nevertheless, it’s still a pretty good song.

4. So the hurdy gurdy is that box that the guy plays who has the monkey!

If you say this to a hurdy gurdy player, they will know you for the philistine that you are. Hurdy gurdy players are constantly harassed with this question; even Webster’s dictionary has betrayed us! There is a great difference between the two instruments: the hurdy gurdy is a keyed instrument that a musician must play; the box that the man with the monkey turns is a barrel organ, a pre-programmed instrument. Even the monkey could play the barrel organ, but one must be a practiced musician to properly play the hurdy gurdy.

5. Do you frequent Renaissance faires, reveling with your hurdy gurdy in one hand and a big turkey leg in the other?

To be honest, I have never been to a Renaissance faire, despite what you may hear from the other members of Havalina. Contrary to what they say, hurdy gurdy players do not play their instruments so that they may cavort licentiously about a Renaissance faire pleasure dome!

6. Can I touch the wheel?

NO! Even I, the player can’t touch the wheel so you can’t either. The reason for the “Don’t touch the wheel rule” is this: the wheel is the most sensitive part of the instrument. In order to function properly, the wheel must not only be perfectly round, it must be free of oil, including finger oil. Getting a hurdy gurdy to sound good is extremely difficult: the wheel must be oil free, a proper combination of rosin must be applied, the strings must be situated correctly in relation to the wheel and the strings must be properly wrapped in cotton. If a wheel is touched, sometimes a player will need to scrape down the wheel with a sharp chisel until the oil is removed. If you want to disgruntle or offend a hurdy gurdy player, then touching their wheel will definitely do the job.

7. Is the hurdy gurdy the most sexy instrument in existence?

This is a hotly debated question, especially in France where sexiness has always been hotly debated. But the answer is yes the hurdy gurdy is the most sexy instrument in existence. The hurdy gurdy achieved this title because it has proved its sexiness for over a millennium. It possesses both a stately yet rugged sexiness and it is altogether fitting that it has received the honorable and noble title: “THE MOST SEXY INSTRUMENT.”

8. What if I have a “wolf tangent?”

I’m afraid there’s not much you can do.

9. I went to Guitar Center to buy a hurdy gurdy, and they said, “We don’t service nerdy hurdy gurdy players! Oooo… look at me, I’m a nerdy hurdy gurdy player cavorting at the Renaissance faire!” Then they cavorted and danced and said, “We cast thee out!”

As you may have guessed, you can’t buy a hurdy gurdy from Guitar Center. Building hurdy gurdies is a difficult and painstaking affair and there are few who build them in great quantities. One must be wary before buying one used as well, since there are a lot of crappy hurdy gurdies out there. The first thing to do if you’re looking to buy a hurdy gurdy is to research them on the Internet. There is a wealth of information about hurdy gurdies on the Internet. Consult Alden and Cali Hackmann’s Hurdy Gurdy Site for faqs, information about their hurdy gurdies, and tons of links for anything that’s hurdy gurdy related. And by the way, the Hackmanns make excellent instruments if you are seriously thinking of buying one. They are meticulous and patient craftsmen. They are constantly learning more about the hurdy gurdy and improving their line of instruments. Their hurdy gurdies are extremely well built, functional, and their sound will make even the snobbiest hurdy gurdy critic swoo n with pleasure. If you have access to a good wood shop and can get help from hurdy gurdy craftsmen, you can also build your own. I don’t want to toot my own horn but I guess I will anyway. A friend and I built two hurdy gurdies and although it was rewarding, it was extremely difficult and time consuming. We attended the Over the Water Hurdy Gurdy Festival and received much help from the Hackmanns. There is an incredible amount of information and techniques that one must learn in order for the instrument to work. I warn thee, it is a long and twisted road, fraught with peril and danger.

That concludes the hurdy gurdy banter for the present. If you’re hungry for more, check out “Hurdy Gurdy Weirdnesses” on the Hackmann’s website. Hope you have enjoyed your jaunt through this wilderness of hurdy gurdy mystery, suspense and lore.

Adieu, David J. Maust