What’s a hurdy-gurdy? That’s what Max (the hero of my new release Robyn: A Christmas Bride) asks Robyn (the heroine of the story). Sort of. He actually doesn’t get a chance to ask. He just thinks, The hurdy-what? Here’s the excerpt…
ROBYN: A CHRISTMAS BRIDE ~ EXCERPT
BACKSTORY: It’s 1877 and Max and Robyn are in the Golden Nugget Saloon (in Max’s hometown of Noelle, Colorado). Lark is… Well, let’s just call her a troublemaker from Robyn’s family’s past 😉
EXCERPT: “Lark’s music speaks to lost souls, but she won’t add singing to tonight’s performance. Something’s wrong with her throat.” Robyn’s eyes narrowed with the determination of someone who planned to find out exactly what. “She’s amazing with the fiddle, but nothing compares to her talent with the hurdy-gurdy.”
The hurdy-what? Max bit back the question. Whatever it was, wasn’t as important as the scene unfolding around them. Everyone turned from the stage in search of dance partners. The bachelors stared at Robyn with renewed vigor.
SO, WHAT’S A HURDY-GURDY?
- a hurdy-gurdy: a musical instrument.
- a hurdy-gurdyist: someone who plays the hurdy-gurdy.
- hurdy-gurdy girls: impoverished women who danced with men and enticed them to buy drinks (from an establishment who would then pay them).
In my story, Robyn and Max are talking about the hurdy-gurdy musical instrument.
THE HURDY-GURDY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
While you’re reading, want to hear someone play the hurdy-gurdy?
Listen to Patty Gurdy’s “Gurdy’s Green” or her hurdy-gurdy version of Game of Thrones. In addition to music clips, Patty has lots of videos on her YouTube channel on everything to do with the hurdy-gurdy.
- The hurdy-gurdy originated from fiddles in either Europe or the Middle East sometime before the 11th-century.
- It’s a stringed instrument that produces sound by a hand crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings.
- Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents—small wooden wedges—against one or more of the strings to change their pitch.
- Hurdy-gurdy folk music is popular in many places especially Hungary, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine.
- The word hurdy-gurdy may have come from hirdy-girdy (the Scottish and northern English term for uproar or disorder) or hurly-burly (an old English term for noise or commotion).
WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT ROBYN: A CHRISTMAS BRIDE?
CLICK HERE to read the opening scene of Robyn: A Christmas Bride.
CLICK HERE to read what inspired me to write the story with My Fair Lady and Gift of the Magi themes.
CLICK HERE to view the story’s Pinterest picture inspiration board.
Or buy the book on Amazon US | UK | CA | AUS
Or read it for free with Kindle Unlimited.
Wishing you happy reading…and hurdy-gurdy listening 😊
I’d never actually seen or heard a hurdy gurdy before! How interesting. Thanks for posting this.
I was the same way, Kay – I hadn’t seen or heard much about the hurdy-gurdy, and then I found Patty Gurdy’s video clips and couldn’t help but be intrigued. Glad you enjoyed my blog post and thank you for commenting ❤