What is a hurdy-gurdy. Hurdy-gurdy: musical instrument (photo). Playing the lyre

Types of hurdy-gurdy wheels

IN European countries ah, there are many types of hurdy-gurdies, including Russian varieties of the instrument. The hurdy-gurdy in Russia has never been used in professional music and existed only in the environment of everyday and amateur music-making. Three varieties of this instrument are common in Russia. Type No. 1: Great Russian hurdy-gurdy. It is distinguished by a relatively small body type in the form of a viola, a narrow scale and a unique repertoire. Species No. 2: Don snout. This instrument is common in the territory of the Don Army. It is an old type of instrument with a body in the form of an organistrum. Type No. 3: Ukrainian-style hurdy-gurdy. It is distinguished by its unique design details, playing techniques and repertoire.

Setting up the hurdy-gurdy

There is no single established hurdy-gurdy setup. The variety of designs of this instrument, as well as various musical traditions often require in various ways settings. The hurdy-gurdy is tuned using a tuning block and a key mechanism. By rotating the pegs, the required height of the strings is achieved, and by carefully bending the flags on the keys, the scale of the playing string is precisely adjusted.

Setting option:

To achieve a beautiful melodic sound, wrap the part of the string where it connects with the playing wheel with a small amount of ordinary cotton wool or soft wool. To increase friction on the strings, generously rub the surface of the playing wheel with simple violin rosin. After all the preparatory procedures, start rotating the wheel and continue rotating continuously for 3-5 minutes, adjusting the cotton wool on the strings if necessary. After that, take a breath. That's it, you can play.

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Features of caring for a hurdy-gurdy

A hurdy-gurdy is a unique instrument that requires active attention. The most delicate moment is pairing the strings with the game wheel. Always have a piece of cotton wool or wool with you and learn how to wrap it correctly. Protect the hurdy-gurdy from rain and dampness. During operation, contamination occurs on the surface of the lyre. If your instrument begins to lose its presentable appearance, we recommend using special products in the form of polishes and cleaning products for the care of musical instruments. Be sure to use a case to store the hurdy-gurdy.

Strings for hurdy-gurdy

The choice of strings for a hurdy-gurdy is largely individual. Balalaiker recommends using a set of playing nylon strings and bourdon strings in a metal braid. This option allows the lyre to sound bright, rich and balanced.

History of the hurdy-gurdy

brief historical background

Hurdy-gurdy - antique musical instrument European descent. The first mentions of him are found in historical sources IX-X centuries. At first, the hurdy-gurdy was used primarily to accompany church services, but already in the Middle Ages it spread to many European countries as an instrument for a wide range of repertoires.
On the territory of the Moscow kingdom, the hurdy-gurdy appeared at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries. The instrument penetrated into Russian lands through Ukrainian and Belarusian territories along with settlers, merchants, interventionists and other active populations. The hurdy-gurdy was firmly established and remained until recently in the traditions of some regions of Russia - Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Rostov and some others. It is interesting that back in the 1920s, wandering lyre players could even be found on the streets and bazaars of Moscow. The famous folk music expert Mitrofan Pyatnitsky also had his own hurdy-gurdy.
The Russian hurdy-gurdy, unlike its European relative, was mostly a folk instrument, little known to noble and professional musical circles. The Russian lyre was distinguished by its ease of manufacture, relatively small scale, small number of strings (2-4 pieces) and an original repertoire. The lyre found its widest use among tramps and professional beggars, for whom it was a professional tool for earning money. They could be found in crowded places singing spiritual poems and psalms. However, in some regions, playing the lyre also acted as an accompaniment to drawn-out songs. For example, in the traditions of the Don Cossacks, the lyre (local name - rylya) was used to accompany songs and was preserved until the first third of the 20th century. The hurdy-gurdy was played to dances, dances, ditties, and even romances. One of the last Russian lyre players, Klimenty Feoktistovich Shmatov, lived until the 50s of the 20th century in the Starodubsky district Bryansk region and up to last days played in rural markets. The hurdy-gurdy purchased from him in 1953 is today kept in the Moscow Conservatory.
These days, the hurdy-gurdy is once again attracting public attention. She is increasingly appearing on the horizon, participating in programs of folk musicians, experimentalists and performers of sacred music.

Range
(and build) three settings options Classification Friction string musical instrument, chordophone Related tools Organist, Nyckelharpa Hurdy-gurdy at Wikimedia Commons

Historical sketch

Known in Europe as different names, the oldest of them - “organist” (lat. organistrum) - dates back to the late Middle Ages (not earlier than the 13th century). The oldest images date back to the 12th century: an English book miniature (c. 1175) and a bas-relief of the Cathedral of St. James (Santiago de Compostela, 1188).

In the 12th century The hurdy-gurdy was a bulky instrument that was operated by two people (the musician and his assistant, who mechanically rotated the handle). After in the XIII century. Lightweight (portable) instruments appeared, the hurdy-gurdy quickly spread throughout Europe and became one of the most characteristic attributes of the minstrel culture of the Middle Ages. By the 15th century, the hurdy-gurdy had lost popularity and became an instrument of beggars and vagabonds, often blind, crippled and mentally retarded, who performed songs, poems, and fairy tales to a simple accompaniment. During the Baroque period, a new flowering of the instrument began. In the 18th century, the hurdy-gurdy became a fashionable toy for French aristocrats who were fond of rural life. Currently used in folk music of some European countries, primarily France and Hungary.

It appeared in Russia in the 17th century. It was played by wandering musicians, walkers and blind people, who performed historical songs, ballads and spiritual poems to the mournful sounds of their lyres. The appearance of the lyre in Rus' marked the decline of buffoonery, due to persecution by the authorities and the clergy.

Playing technique

The performer holds the lyre on his lap. Most its strings (3-11) sound simultaneously, vibrating as a result of friction with the wheel rotated right hand. One to four separate strings, the sounding part of which is shortened or lengthened with the help of rods with the left hand, reproduce the melody, and the remaining strings produce a monotonous hum (the so-called bourdon). Western European instruments also have the so-called. trompette- a string resting on a loosely secured stand and allowing rhythmic accompaniment to be played by changing the speed of rotation of the wheel.

Sound

The sound of a hurdy-gurdy is powerful, sad, monotonous, with a slight nasal tint. To soften the sound, the strings at the point of contact with the wheel rim were wrapped with flax or wool fibers. The sound quality of the instrument also depended on the precise alignment of the wheel; in addition, it had to be smooth and well rosinized.

Other names

IN different times and in different countries the instrument was called differently: in Germany - Leier, Drehleier, Bettlerleier, Bauernleier; in England hurdy-gurdy (hyody-gyodi, also found in Russian), in France (including in historical Provence) - symphonie, chifonie, sambiût, sambuca, vierelète, vielle à roue(also abbreviated as vielle); in Italy - ghironda, lyra tedesca, rotata, sinfonia; in Hungary - tekerő; in Belarus - kolava lira, in Ukraine - wheeled wheel or relya, in Poland - lira korbowa, in the Czech Republic - niněra .

Use of the instrument in modern music

Please bring the information into an encyclopedic form and distribute it to the appropriate sections of the article. According to the decision of the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee, lists are preferably based on secondary summaries containing criteria for inclusion of elements in the list.

British singer Donovan composed the song "Hurdy-gurdy man".
A hurdy-gurdy (hardy-hardy) was used former members Led Zeppelin Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in joint project"No quarter." Unleaded."
The instrument was played by performer Nigel Eaton.
Currently, the hurdy-gurdy can be found among the arsenal of musical instruments of such groups as In Extremo (in particular, in their song “Captus Est” from the single “Nur Ihr Allein”), Eluveitie, Blackmore's Night (in particular, in the song “ The Clock Ticks On" from the album "Paris Moon"), Metallica (in the songs Low Man's Lyric, The Memory Remains), Saltatio Mortis, Subway to Sally, Arcade Fire (in the song Keep The Car Running), Satarial, Faun and others.
Hurdy-gurdy has been used in recordings by Australian-Irish band Dead Can Dance and Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie.
The hurdy-gurdy was used on the song "Mummer's Dance" by Lorina McKennitt.
The hurdy-gurdy was also used on the album "The Christmas Cornucopia" by Scottish singer Annie Lennox.
In Russia, a hurdy-gurdy is used: musical group The Origin Ensemble, ensemble early music Insula Magica, soloist Viktor Luferov, ensemble medieval music Laterna Magica, ensemble of ancient Russian sacred music "Sirin", Russian neo-folk group Moon Far Away.
Spanish folk-jazz quartet Kaulakau
Used when recording the album “The Civil War” by the electronic group Matmos (2003).
On the Cold Mountain soundtrack, "You Will Be My Ain True Love" performed by Alison Krauss and Sting.
Used by the Belarusian VIA "Pesnyary" when performing and recording folk songs and songs in the Belarusian language.
In the video for Rauta by the Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani, the lead singer holds a hurdy-gurdy in his hands.
Used in the recording of the album “Moon and Grosh” by the Moscow folk metal band “Kalevala”.
Starting from

hurdy-gurdy- a stringed musical instrument shaped like a violin case.

The performer holds the lyre on his lap. Most of its strings (6-8) sound simultaneously, vibrating as a result of friction against the wheel rotated by the right hand. One or two separate strings, the sounding part of which is shortened or lengthened with the help of rods with the left hand, reproduce the melody, and the remaining strings emit a monotonous hum.

In England, this instrument is called hurdy-gurdy (hardy-gurdy, also found in Russian), in Germany - drehleier, in France - vielle à roue, in Italy - ghironda or lira tedesca, in Hungary - tekerő. In Russian it is called a hurdy-gurdy, in Belarusian - lіra, in Ukrainian - kolіsna lіra or relya, and in Polish - lira korbowa.

In the X-XIII centuries. The hurdy-gurdy was a bulky instrument (organistrum) played by two people. The instrument found use in monasteries; it was used to perform church music. By the 15th century, the hurdy-gurdy had lost popularity and became an instrument of beggars and vagabonds, often blind and crippled, who performed songs, poems, and fairy tales to simple accompaniment. During the Baroque period, a new flowering of the instrument began. In the 18th century, the hurdy-gurdy became a fashionable toy for French aristocrats who were fond of rural life.

In Russia, the hurdy-gurdy became widespread in the 17th century. The instrument was mastered by beggars and blind tramps, “walkers.” In order not to incur the wrath of the king and God, they performed spiritual poems to the sounds of their lyres.

The hurdy-gurdy (hardy-hardy) was used by former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in the joint project “No Quarter. Unleaded." The instrument was played by performer Nigel Eaton. Currently, the hurdy-gurdy can be found among the arsenal of musical instruments of the groups In Extremo (in particular, in their song “Captus Est” from the single “Nur Ihr Allein”), Blackmore’s_Night (in particular, in the song “The Clock Ticks On” from album "Paris_Moon") and Eluveitie, Metallica (in the songs Low Man's Lyric, The Memory Remains)

Painting:

Georges de La Tour "Organ Grinder with a Dog"

Willem van Mieris "The Hurdy Gurdy Player Asleep in a Tavern"

David Vinckboons "The Blind Hurdy-Gurdy Player"

Teodor Aksentovich "Lyrnik and the girl", 1900

Kazimir Pokhvalsky "Lyrnik", 1885

Vasily Navozov "Song of the Lyre Player"

antique engraving "Girl playing the lyre"

Georges de la Tour "Playing a hurdy-gurdy with a ribbon", 1640

Georges de la Tour "Playing the hurdy-gurdy", 1631-36.

Kazimir Pokhvalsky "Lyrnik in front of the hut", 1887

Unknown French artist "DANCE"

Pieter Bruegel Jr., "The Organ Grinder", 1608

Jan van de Venne "The hurdy-gurdy man"

Jules Richomme "The Hurdy-Gurdy Girl"

Osmerkin Alexander Alexandrovich. "Still life with lyre and guitar", 1920

Photos:

Hungarians, photo 1980

lyre player on Moscow street -1900.

A blind kobzar with a guide boy. Belarusians. SEM photo archive

France - 20-30s of the 20th century

hurdy-gurdy
(hurdy-gurdy)

The hurdy-gurdy, also known as the wheeled fiddle ( "wheel fiddle") is a stringed musical instrument in which the sound is produced by friction of a rosin wheel driven by a lever against the strings. This wheel essentially acts as a bow, turning the instrument into something like a mechanical violin. The melody is played using keys on which cams are attached - wooden wedges that clamp the strings in the right places. Like most acoustic strings, the hurdy-gurdy has a resonator that amplifies the vibration of the strings.

Most hurdy-gurdies have multiple bourdon strings, which produce a constant tone while played, much like the principle of bagpipes. For this reason, the hurdy-gurdy is often used in conjunction with or instead of bagpipes, for example in French and Hungarian folk music.

Many music festivals gather groups with the participation of hurdy-gurdy performers, the most famous such festival is festival in Saint-Chartiers, in central France in the Indre department, held around 14 July.

Origin and history

It is believed that the Gurdy Gurdy appeared in Western Europe before the 8th century AD. One of the earliest forms of the instrument was the organistrum - a large instrument with a guitar-shaped resonator and a long neck on which keys were fixed (in the range of one diatonic octave). The organistrum had one melodic string and two bourdon strings, which were pulled through a regular bridge and a small wheel. Because of its size, the organistrum was played by two people: one musician rotated the wheel, the other pulled the keys. Pulling (rather than pressing) the keys was a difficult technique, so the instrument was mostly used to play slow melodies. The organistrum was tuned according to Pythagorean temperament, and was used primarily to accompany church and monastery choral singing. Abbot Odo of Cluny (d.942) is considered the author of a short description of the structure of the organistrum called Quomodo organistrum construatur (How the organistrum works), known from later copies, but its reliability is rather doubtful. One of the earliest depictions of the organistrum is a sculpture from the 12th century. at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, depicting two players playing an instrument.

Later, the organistrum acquired smaller dimensions, more convenient for use by one musician. The solo organistrum was known in Spain and France, but was soon replaced by the symfonia, a small version of the hurdy-gyurdy with a rectangular resonator, three strings and a diatonic keyboard. Around the same time, push keys were invented. Such keys were much more suitable for playing fast melodies, were much more convenient, and soon completely replaced the pull-out ones. Medieval depictions of the symphony show both types of keyboards.

During times late renaissance Two characteristic forms of the instrument's resonator were established - a guitar form and a set of rivets, a rounded lute shape. The latter form is especially characteristic of French instruments.

By the end of the 17th century, changing tastes demanded greater polyphonic capabilities from the hurdy-gurdy and, lacking them, it became an instrument of the lower classes and as a result received names such as the German Bauernleier"peasant lire" or Bettlerleier"poor man's lyre"
During the Rococo period, however, a revival of interest in peasant themes again turned the attention of the upper classes to the instrument, and it gained enormous popularity in high society. For hurdy-gurdy famous composers were written classical works(for example, the well-known Pastor Fido Vivaldi). At this time, the predominant six-string form of the instrument called vielle a roue. Such an instrument had two melody strings and four buron strings, which could be turned off and on if there was a need to play in different keys.

At the same time, the hurdy-gurdy began to penetrate further to the east, where in different options developed in Slavic countries, eastern German regions and Hungary. Most national instruments became extinct by the beginning of the 20th century, but some have survived to this day, the most famous of which are the French vielle a roue, Venusian tekerőlant and Spanish zanfona. In Ukraine, a variety called lira It was widely used by blind itinerant musicians, most of whom were destroyed by Stalin in the 1930s. In many countries - Sweden, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Italy and Portugal in recently there was a revival of the instrument, as a result of which it penetrated into a variety of musical styles and styles including modern music, in the context of which no one had previously considered the hurdy-gurdy.

In the 18th century the name hurdy gurdy also applied to a small portable instrument, also called "barrel organ"- a barrel organ, which was often played by wandering musicians.

Hurdy-gurdy in eastern Europe

In Eastern Europe, particularly in Hungary, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine, there is a developed tradition of playing the hurdy-gurdy. In Ukraine the instrument is known as lira or relya, and was used mainly by professional traveling musicians, often blind, who were called lyre players. Their repertoire consisted mainly of religious themes, as well as epic songs called Duma And folk dances. In the 1930s the tradition was practically interrupted because the Soviet government declared lyre players a socially undesirable element and mass destroyed them. Now the instrument is being actively revived and used in various folk projects.

Terminology

Due to the development of the French wheel-lyre tradition, many of the parts of the instrument and playing techniques are called by French terms. For example:

trompette : the highest bourdon string that is pulled across a buzzing bridge
mouche : bourdon string tuned to a fourth or fifth below the string trompette
petit bourdon trompette
gros bourdon : Bourdon string tuned an octave below the string mouche
chanterelle(s) : melodic string(s), also called in English chanter or chanters
chien : (literally "dog") buzzing bridge
tirant : a small peg on the tailpiece designed to adjust the sensitivity of the buzzing bridge

Tool names

According to the Oxford Etymological Dictionary, the word is onomatopoeic in origin, and produces a repetitive creaking sound characteristic of instruments with hard wooden wheels that have warped from moisture; or the sound of a whirring bridge.

Some adhere to a different, folk etymology:

hurdy- back, butt of a person + gurdy- a wheel with a lever for pulling fishing nets into the boat

This etymology is questionable for several reasons: firstly, hurdy- not an English word, secondly - the name of the lever ( hurdy gurdy, not gurdy) was first recorded in 1883 and transferred to it due to the analogy with a musical instrument, and not vice versa.

Another folk etymology says that the name hurdy gurdy comes from an anglicized form of French harpe de gourde .

Sometimes the instrument is descriptively called a "wheel fiddle", but this term is not used among performers. Hungarian tekerőlant and its variant forgolant– both mean “turning lute.” German Bauernleier means "peasant lyre". (Words Leier, lant– denote instruments of the lute or lyre family, but historically they denoted a wider range of meanings and were applied to many types string instruments).
Another Hungarian word for hurdy-gurdy is nyenyere, which is presumably onomatopoeic and denotes the creaking of an uneven wheel. It is worth noting that the term had a pejorative meaning on the Hungarian plains, but was common on the island of Csepel south of Budapest.

Device

There is no generally accepted standard for the design of a hurdy-wheel, although in Europe the French one is most typical vielle a roue. Outside France, it has several regional forms, but outside its borders the instrument was considered a folk one, and no single standard was developed.

There are two most common types of resonator in modern hurdy-gurdies - guitar and lute. Both versions exist in French-speaking regions, but outside of them the guitar version is generally accepted. The rectangular resonator symphony is also popular among early music performers and historical reenactors.

Strings

Historically, strings were made from sinew, which is still favored by some players, but is the most common today metal strings, which are most convenient especially for low bourdon strings. Nylon ones are also used, but many performers do not prefer them.
Bourdon strings produce a continuous sound of one tone. The melody string(s) are clamped with cams attached to the keys and shortened or lengthened sounding part strings, similar to how a guitarist's fingers work on the fretboard. On the earliest hurdy-gurdy keys the keys were tuned according to the Pythagorean temperament, later instruments were tuned differently, but now equal temperament is the most common for ease of playing with other instruments. But since each cam on any hurdy-gurdy key can be individually tuned, virtually any type of temperament is possible. Most modern hurdy wheels have 24 keys, which give a range of 2 chromatic octaves.

To obtain the desired timbre and sound quality, each string of the hurdy-gurdy is wrapped with a piece of cotton wool or other similar fiber. A small amount of cotton wool is usually wound on the melodic string, and more on the bourdon string. The wrong amount of cotton can result in a sound that is too harsh or too dull, especially at the top of the range. In addition, individual strings (especially melodic strings) require adjustment of the rise above the wheel using small pieces of paper placed under the strings on the bridge. This process is called shimming. Shimming and wool winding are related processes, since both affect the geometry of the instrument's strings.

Buzzing Bridge

In some types of hurdy-gurdies, especially the French vielle a roue(violin with wheel) and in Hungarian tekerőlant (tekerő- short) a device called a “buzzing bridge” is used, chien(French dog) or recsegő(Hungarian buzzer). On modern French instruments there can be up to 4 of them. This mechanism consists of a free bridge on which a bourdon string is stretched. One leg of this bridge is inserted into a groove in the soundboard (or, on Hungarian instruments, held in place by a peg) and holds the bridge in place. The free end, called the “hammer,” is adjacent to the soundboard and can vibrate more or less freely. When the wheel turns slowly, the pressure of the string (called on French instruments) trompette) holds the bridge in place and only the string sounds. As the player accelerates the rotation, the hammer rises and begins to vibrate, hitting the soundboard surface and producing a characteristic rhythmic buzz that is used to create rhythmic percussion accompaniment, especially in dance tunes.

On French style instruments, the sensitivity of the buzzing bridge can be adjusted using a peg called tirant, it is attached to the instrument's tailpiece and connected to the string trompette using wire or thread. Tirant changes the lateral pressure on the string and thus adjusts the sensitivity of the buzzing bridge relative to the speed of rotation of the wheel. There are various techniques for rotating the wheel and accelerating its rotation in different phases. Each “jerk” (sharp acceleration) of the wheel produces a distinct buzzing sound. Such jerks are not performed automatically, but are under the complete control of the performer.

On Hungarian instruments, such adjustment is carried out using a wedge called recsegőék(adjustment wedge (literally "buzzer wedge")) which deflects the bourdon string downwards. When played traditionally, the buzzing bridge is completely controlled by the performer's wrist and has a completely different sound and rhythmic capabilities compared to French instruments.

Regional types

Regional types of hurdy-gurdies since the Renaissance can be classified according to
a) wheel size And
b) presence or absence of a buzzing bridge.

1.Small wheel

Tools with a small wheel (less than 14 cm in diameter) are typical for the Central and Eastern Europe. They are distinguished by a wide string box (keybox) and bourdon strings that pass inside her. Due to the small diameter of the wheel, these instruments usually have three strings - one melody, one tenor and one bass string. Sometimes there can be more strings - up to five.

German instrument with pear-shaped resonator Drehleier . Two or three bourdon strings and one or two chromatic melodic strings. The characteristic wedge-shaped “headstock” on which the pegs are attached. Often richly decorated. Instruments of this type use a buzz bridge with an adjusting peg, which is mounted next to the string, rather than on the tailpiece as on French instruments.

V). Whiz bridge with wedge adjustment

Hungarian tekerőlant : Usually has 2 bourdons (sometimes 3) and one or two melodic chromatic strings. The wide string box is often carved or heavily decorated.

Tyrolean Drehleier (Austria): Very similar to tekerőlant, but usually has a diatonic tuning. It is very likely that this instrument was a prototype of the Hungarian one.

With). Without a buzzing bridge

lira korbowa (Poland). Guitar shaped resonator. Two bourdons and one melodic diatonic string.

hurdy-gurdy /rylya/rylya (Russia). Guitar shaped resonator. Two bourdons and one melodic diatonic string. Flat keyboard.

lira (Ukraine). Two bourdons and one melodic diatonic string.
Three types of resonator: hollowed out from one piece of wood, guitar with side pegs and stacked with vertical pegs. Flat keyboard.

ninera/kolovratec (Slovakia). Guitar shaped resonator. Two bourdons and one melodic diatonic string. Wide string box. Externally similar to the Hungarian tekerő, but does not have a buzzing bridge.

grodalira/vevlira (Sweden). Revived in the 20th century according to historical models. Two resonator shapes: oblong box-shaped and elongated pear-shaped. Usually has a diatonic tuning, but it can be extended to chromatic by adding additional keys that are located below the regular diatonic row (rather than above, as on most hurdy-gurdies).

German tulip-shaped Drehleier . Three bourdons and one melodic diatonic string.

2.Big wheel

Tools with a large wheel (diameter from 14 to 17 cm) are typical for Western Europe. Such instruments usually have a narrow string box, inside which only the melody strings are stretched. They usually have more strings, and duplication or tripling of strings is common. Some modern instruments have up to 15 strings, although the usual number is 6.

a).Buzzing bridge with string adjustment

Although lyres were mainly used in Ukraine and among the Don Cossacks (where they were called “Don snouts”), they also exist in the Russian version. True, they didn’t reach our places - no one had heard of them in the Urals (according to my data), let alone our Siberia. So for our places this is not a very traditional instrument (or not at all).

Happy rebirth folk culture“from above”, from the cities, the tradition of lyricism began to revive - many ensembles are introducing lyres into their repertoire throughout the country. This instrument is special, “spiritual”, and it can and should be used when performing spiritual poems - for example, the well-known ensemble “Oktay” in Siberia still uses the lyre. :)

Masters of making lyres also appeared. One of the most famous is Vasily Evkhimovich, from near Myshkin; He has a whole video instruction on working with liras on his website. :) Lyres are also made by the Balalaiker manufactory, Ulyanovsk-Moscow.

One of the most popular videos on YouTube is with a Russian hurdy-gurdy - more than a million views.

And, actually, why am I writing all this:

A hurdy-gurdy and rosin for it :)