The hurdy-gurdy is one of the oldest instruments that dates back to the early Middle Ages. Its ancestor, the organistrum, was the first instrument to be used in churches. It was replaced by the organ in the 13th century. It was essentially used as a pedagogical tool and to accompany hymns. It evolved into a smaller instrument and gradually spread outside the church to fall into the hands of minstrels and troubadours. The hurdy-gurdy continues to evolve until today and is enriched with new electro-acoustic concepts in contemporary music.

This baroque hurdy-gurdy is inspired by an instrument made by the luthier FLEURY and kept in the Musée des Musiques Populaires in Montluçon. In the Mercure de France review of 1752, Charles Bâton, a famous hurdy-gurdy player and son of Henri Bâton, who is credited with making the first hurdy-gurdies mounted on baroque guitar and lute bodies, describes the ideal characteristics that the baroque hurdy-gurdy should have. We have based our design on these characteristics. No movable bridge, extended tessitura, tuning in D. This instrument was built entirely using the manufacturing techniques of the time, all by hand, from raw materials. The bone used for the marquetry and keys was taken from an ox metatarsus, the crank and wheel axle were forged, and the wheel was turned using a pole lathe.

Materials : Maple, walnut, cherry, ebony, pear, bone, ferrous metal

Dimensions : 57cm * 25cm * 15cm

diapason: 375mm

number of keys: 28

The hurdy-gurdy is one of the oldest instruments that dates back to the early Middle Ages. Its ancestor, the organistrum, was the first instrument to be used in churches. It was replaced by the organ in the 13th century. It was essentially used as a pedagogical tool and to accompany hymns. It evolved into a smaller instrument and gradually spread outside the church to fall into the hands of minstrels and troubadours. The hurdy-gurdy continues to evolve until today and is enriched with new electro-acoustic concepts in contemporary music.

This model of Iberian hurdy-gurdy differs from the so-called French hurdy-gurdy. The zanfona has three chanterelles and two drones. The absence of a dog (mobile bridge), gives it a very different playing, whose articulation is carried over to the fingering of the left hand.

Materials: the body is made of rosewood, the soundboard is made of spruce. The keyboard is made of maple. The pistachios are made of black and blue stained maple and vegetable ivory. The cover of the keyboard and the wheel cover are covered with marquetry.

Dimensions : 75cm * 30cm * 20cm

String length : 330mm

Number of key : 23