Hurdy Gurdy Man

This is a brand new, unused card showing a man playing a "vielle", which I have recently discovered is translated as a hurdy-gurdy.  I have always thought a hurdy-gurdy was the same as a barrel organ.

The hurdy gurdy has a history that dates back to the 12th century in Spain, from an organistrum which was played by two people and used mainly for sacred music.  It evolved into a one-player instrument used for secular music while the organ took over the role in sacred music.

By this time the instrument was called a symphonia, then a chiffonie.  Only from the 18th century could it be called a hurdy-gurdy, or vielle.

Folklore groups in the centre of France continue to uphold the traditions of this instrument and each year there is a festival of "Maîtres Sonneurs" in a local château. 

There is a site dedicated to the hurdy-gurdy in France where you can find the history of the instrument in greater detail, translated into something approaching English.

Even if you don't want to wade through all of that, though it isn't so much really, you might like to listen to a few of the piece there.  The first, Fêtes des Apôtres - IX^ème siècle is pretty dire and is likely to put you off for ever.   But please think of listening to the  Suite de la valse N°2 de Chostakowitch et de la valse reine de musette.   It doesn't sound the least like bagpipes.