HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 103 



In medieval times the monochord (monos, one; chorda, string) 

 consisted of a single string stretched over two bridges which were 

 fixed on an oblong box. 



HURDT-G0RDY 



The earliest stringed instrument fitted with keys was probably 

 the hurdy-gurdy, which in the Middles Ages was almost as popular 

 as the pianoforte of the present day. It should be understood that 

 the hurdy-gurdy of medieval times was in no way related to the 

 street organ which in modern times is called by that name. It has 

 always been, associated with rural life, like the bagpipe, but in the 

 first half of the eighteenth century it contributed to the amusement 

 of the French higher classes during the years when mock shepherds 

 and shepherdesses were in vogue. It is also called a vielle. The 

 old Latin name for the hurdy-gurdy was organistrnm, and this 

 form of instrument was so large that it took two persons to play 

 it. The instrument was so long that two players laid it across 

 their knees, and one turned the crank while the other touched the 

 keys. A typical instrument had only one melody string. 



The hurdy-gurdy is allied to both bowed and keyed instru- 

 ments, as its strings are frictioned and their vibrating length is 

 affected by keys. The friction is accomplished by a wheel, oper- 

 ated by a crank which the player turns with his right hand. Four 

 of the five strings are drones, and sound continuously unless moved 

 away from the wheel by a simple contrivance. The melody string 

 passes over the body of the instrument, and its vibrating length 

 is changed for each note by the pressing of a key, as a violinist 

 stops a string with his fingers. Sometimes two melody strings are 

 used, the pair being tuned in unison. Thus the instrument played a 

 melody with an accompaniment of drone tones, but could not be 

 used for playing part music. As this form of music was greatly 

 enjoyed by the people, the hurdy-gurdy gradually gave way to in- 

 struments on which it could be played. 



Three specimens of this curious instrument are exhibited. The 

 finest is a French instrument (94866, pi. 47d) with four drone 

 strings stretched over the belly on the left and right of the key 

 box. Partially within the body but rising up through the belly 

 is a wooden wheel, placed on a shaft parallel to the strings, and 

 operated by a crank at the end of the instrument. An Italian 

 hurdy-gurdy with 12 keys is 95256, and a native instrument from 

 Little Russia is 96465 (pi. 47e). This has three melody strings and 

 two drones. It is said that "the instrument is usually played by 

 blind beggars at fairs and festivals and as they wander from village 

 to village." 



The nyckel harpa of Sweden resembles the hurdy-gurdy in the 

 manner of stopping the strings, but differs in the manner of sound- 



