[HG] Re: HG in Colonial America - thanks!

[Jocelyn Demuth]

Thanks to everyone who posted info about the HG in America.  I love the idea 
of the Hurdy-gurdy girls dancing and playing in the wild west.  I still like 
to think that some people must have brought Hg's over from the old country. 
I doubt they were played very often - early settlers had their hands full 
and HG maintenance probably didn't  make the "to do" list.  But probably, 
they looked at them wistfully now and then wishing they had the time and the 
audience for a HG dance or concert.    Despite complete lack of documented 
evidence, I can picture someone playing the HG in the streets of old New 
York or Boston - those cities would have been large enough to support some 
street musicians.  However Boston weather can be very hard on hurdy-gurdies, 
even when it is warm enough to play outside, the constant change in humidity 
takes its toll on an instrument - particularly one built in a more moderate 
European climate.  New York isn't much better - so I don't know how long 
that would have lasted.
Well,  if anyone finds out anything more,  please post to the list.  There 
are a lot of American players here who would be interested to learn more. - 
Jocelyn