A hurdy-gurdy, also known as a wheel fiddle, is a musical instrument in which the strings are sounded by means of a rosined wheel which the strings of the instrument pass over. This wheel, turned with a crank, functions much like a violin bow, making the instrument essentially a mechanical violin.
The hurdy-gurdy has a sound similar to that of bagpipes. For this reason, the hurdy-gurdy is often used interchangeably with or along with bagpipes. Because of its size, two players were usually required. Today, it can be played by one musician, referred to as a hurdy-gurdyist.
