[ This is the first paragraph from an article at the web site of the 
 [ retail business, Lark In The Morning:
 [ 
 [     http://www.mhs.mendocino.k12.ca.us/MenComNet/Business/Retail/
 [     Larknet/ArtHurdyGurdyHistory
 [ 
 [ There's also a big web site about this stringed instrument at
 [ 
 [     http://www.hurdygurdy.com/hg/hghome.html
 [
 [ -- Robbie


          A Brief History of the Hurdy Gurdy, by Astra Thor

   The hurdy gurdy, known in France as the vielle a roue, or vielle for
short, is an ancient instrument which is undergoing a modern renaissance
in Europe and America.

   First, to dispel a popular misconception: the hurdy gurdy was not
played by the organ grinder or his monkey.  They used a large music box
operated by a crank.

   Today's hurdy gurdy is roughly the same as those built in the middle
ages.  It has three to six strings which are caused to vibrate by a
resined wheel turned by a crank.  Melody notes are produced on one
string, or two tuned in unison, by pressing keys which stop the string at
the proper intervals for the scale.  The other strings play a drone note.

   Some instruments have a "dog", "trompette" or "buzzing bridge".  A
string passes over a moveable bridge, which by a clever movement of the
crank in the open hand, can produce a rasping rhythm to accompany the
tune by causing the bridge to hammer on the sound board.  The instrument
is held in the lap with a strap to hold it steady.  The case can be
square, lute back, or flat back with a guitar or fiddle shape.

   Forms of the vielle a roue existed not only in France, but in Germany,
Italy, Britain, Russia, Spain and Hungary.