It's a hurdy-gurdy, and this post is going to try and cover some of the questions we often get asked after gigs.

Q: Where is it from? Is it Celtic?
A: No. It's an instrument found all over Europe. The type I play is found in Central France, one of the places where the hurdy gurdy is or was commonly played. There is another stronghold of hurdy gurdy playing in Hungary. It might sound Celtic because it's drone-based, and people are most used to hearing drones in Irish and Scottish music, but drones used to be common in folk music everywhere in Europe. For instance there are many kinds of European bagpipe other than the Scots and Irish pipes.

Q: Is it mediaeval?
A: Not really. There were rudimentary hurdy-gurdy type things in the Middle Ages but they really flowered in the 18th and 19th centuries. The instrument is still being developed today. The instrument I play is not a historical copy, it's a modern working instrument by Chris Eaton (his website). It's difficult to tie the hurdy gurdy down to one specific era, because it evolved gradually and continues to evolve to this day.

Q: How does it work?
A: It's a stringed instrument like a violin. Instead of a bow, it has a wheel turned by a handle. The edge of the wheel bows the strings. Instead of the fingers changing the note as on a violin, the strings go through a keybox. When a key is pressed, it pushes against the string, changing the note. As well as the melody strings, the hurdy-gurdy has drone strings which play the same continuous note, accompanying the tune. This is what makes it sound vaguely bagpipey.

Q: What was that buzzing noise?
A: As well as the drone and melody strings, the hurdy-gurdy has another string, the trompette, which passes over a small loose bridge. When the player is turning the handle, if they flick it momentarily, this bridge vibrates and buzzes. Learning to play the buzz rhythmically is the most difficult aspect of playing the hurdy-gurdy, and it is unique to the instrument.

Q: Is it difficult to play?
A: The left hand is really just a keyboard, and apart from the fact that you can't see your fingers and you can't use your thumb, it's no harder than playing the piano say. The right hand operates the trompette, which is harder to get the hang of and takes a lot of practice to do really well.

Q: Where do you get them from, and are they expensive?
A: Hurdy gurdies have to be hand made - there is no hurdy gurdy factory in China making cheap copies, so yes they do tend to be expensive. You can get cheaper ones, and kit versions, but they're usually cheaper for a reason. There are a couple of makers in the UK, more in France and a few elsewhere.

Q: Is it anything to do with Donovan's song "Hurdy-Gurdy Man"?
A: Um, I dunno.