hurdy gurdy
Definition
Noun: A hurdy gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The melody is played on a keyboard that presses tangents against one or more melody strings to change their pitch. It often features drone strings that provide a continuous harmonic background.
Usage
The term "hurdy gurdy" refers specifically to this unique mechanical string instrument. It is used as a countable noun. * The street musician played a haunting tune on his hurdy gurdy. * The medieval fair featured the distinctive sound of a hurdy gurdy.
Examples
- She learned to play the hurdy gurdy to perform traditional folk music.
- The hurdy gurdy's drone creates a sound similar to bagpipes.
- Many people mistakenly call a barrel organ a hurdy gurdy, but they are different instruments.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The hurdy gurdy was popular in medieval and Renaissance Europe, often used by wandering musicians and in dance music.
- Modern Revival: It has seen a resurgence in contemporary folk, medieval, and world music genres.
Variants and Related Words
- Wheel fiddle: Another, less common name for the hurdy gurdy, describing its method of sound production.
- Vielle à roue: The French term for the instrument.
Synonyms
- String instrument: A broader category to which the hurdy gurdy belongs. (Note: There is no perfect single-word synonym for "hurdy gurdy" due to its specific design.)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- No direct idioms: The term "hurdy gurdy" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. It is primarily a technical term for the instrument.
Noun
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a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegs
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