Música Brasilis

The hurdy-gurdy (vihuela de roda in Spanish, vièlle à roue in French, viela de roda in Brazil, or accordion, used in Portugal) is a very peculiar instrument of the violin family, since it is the only one whose sound is produced from turning a hand crank.

It is formed by a resonance box in which there is a wooden wheel that is rotated from a crank turned by the musician. In addition, it has a large arm that houses a keyboard. When the keyboard is touched, it triggers small tangents of wood.

 This instrument has usually six strings and can emit 3 different types of sound: bass and continuous sounds similar to bagpipes; medium and acute sounds similar to those of the violin (melodic); and loud, percussive sounds like a buzzing sound.

How does it work?

To play the hurdy-gurdy, the musician, with one hand, sets the musical notes by pressing the keyboard that triggers the tangents, changing the vibrating length of the string. With the other hand, he turns the crank by rotating the wheel of the instrument that rubs the strings and makes them vibrate, thus producing the sound.

A bit of history...

The hurdy-gurdy is an essentially popular medieval instrument whose origin dates back probably to the 11st century in the Iberian Peninsula. During the seventeenth century was used in the halls of Paris and currently is still used throughout Europe, especially in the Central region.

Although in Portugal it is known as sanfona, a customs document from Rio de Janeiro of the late eighteenth century suggests that the hurdy-gurdy was also known in Brazil and Portugal by gaita de roda.