I would just note that with any late sources like this one you need to try to verify the description as either a period one or a modern interpolation. I'm skeptical of trying to apply them backwards as descriptive of what was going on unless there is something in the text that shows a more intimate acquaintance. Otherwise there is a strong possibility that the modern author, when confronted with an unfamiliar term, consulted a published source for the meaning. I guess that the combination of "mechanical hand organ" and then the more detailed description about wheels, etc. shows a confusion based on published sources in which the author tried to combine conflicting descriptions in a way that made sense.
What's really needed are some period photos or a detailed period description, not a modern gloss on the term. Sometimes even period descriptions are problematic. For example, some early Hungarian sources referred to an instrument called the kintorna (Lat. quinterna, literally something like “five-fold”) and clearly gloss it as a sort of organistrum, but in other contexts it's clear that the quinterna was some sort of plucked string instrument with five courses of doubled strings (e.g., the “tyz hwrw kyntorna” - ten-stringed quinterna). I mention this just to show that names of musical instruments, even in one period, can be confusing. Thus finding either a first-hand account of the HG girls by someone who actually noted the construction or a photo from the time would be the best bet and modern explanations need to be treated gingerly. (By the way, my personal belief that we're probably talking about barrel organs here isn't the issue, as I'd say the same thing if someone glossed it as a barrel organ. We just don't have enough to know for certain.) -Arle On Mar 9, 2009, at 2:59 PM, penny cloud wrote: > Howdy, I have a book called "Soiled Doves" by Anne Seagraves. > copyright 1994 by Wesanne Publications p.o. box 428 Hayden, Idaho > 83835. In the glossary she lists hurdy gurdy as "a form of > mechanical hand organ with strings, keys and wooden wheels that > produced music when the handle was turned. It was first used in > Europe and became a popular musical instrument in America during the > 1800s." I find it interesting that first she mentioned that it was a > form of mechanical hand organ...and then mentions the strings, keys > and wooden wheels. I live in northern California in the gold rush > area just off a road called "French Creek". I'm going to do some > diggin' and see what I can find about genuine hurdy gurdys. Penny --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
