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What is this weird instrument?
Played by a member of Arcade Fire on Saturday Night Live. I don't have a photo, but it's some kind of thing with a crank on the end... what the heck is it?
It sort of looks like it might have strings inside it or something. She held it like a guitar and cranked it from the bottom end. It had a big black piece over the middle where the strings would be on a guitar... ?
7 Answers
- happydogLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
It's definitely a hurdy-gurdy. Arcade Fire is known for their use of that instrument. It dates back to medieval times. Interestingly enough Jimmy Page used it on a couple of Led Zeppelin records, and of course Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" references the song (but doesn't use a hurdy gurdy, go figure). I think the Decemberists have used a hurdy gurdy as well.
It does indeed have strings which are covered, you have a good eye. The way it works is that there's a little wheel inside that rubs against the strings, making a droning noise. The wheel of course is turned by the crank. There are keys on the outside, like piano keys, that you press to change pitch.
It's a very odd-sounding instrument, and very expensive as well.
- 1 decade ago
It's called a hurdy-gurdy. Originally all the rage 300 years ago or so. Available from places like Lark in the morning or music crafters.
- ?Lv 45 years ago
Shoots and Ladders - Korn (bagpipe) Noone Likes a Bleeder - Page France - (Glockenspiel) Any Slipknot track - Beer Keg BMX Crash - Modest Mouse - (kazoo) Money - Pink Floyd (Cash Register)
- 1 decade ago
Maybe a hurdy-gurdy
sometimes also supported on a stand while a little monkey dances next to it.
Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy_gurdy - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 1 decade ago
Is it possibly something called a hurdy gurdy? It was mentioned on their page on Wikipedia.
- 1 decade ago
i think the answer has been established, but i just wanted to say for the hell of it that the arcade fire performances were amazing...I LOVE THE SONG INTERVENTION and KEEP THE CAR RUNNING...amazing
