Hand organ is the general name given to several kinds of musical instruments that produce music when the player cranks a handle. The most common kind is the barrel organ, or piano organ, played by street musicians. The instrument consists of a box that contains pipes or metal reeds and a cylinder, called a barrel, on which pegs are arranged. When the barrel is turned by a crank, the pegs open the valves of various pipes. The cranking action forces air into the open pipes to produce music.
The hurdy-gurdy is a kind of hand organ with strings that is seldom played today. Most hurdy-gurdies have from four to six strings. The instrument is played with keys and a rosin-covered wooden wheel. The keys determine the notes that are played. The wheel, turned by hand, rubs the strings to create the music. The hurdy-gurdy was popular in Europe during the 1000’s and again during the 1700’s. The Austrian composer Joseph Haydn wrote several works for the hurdy-gurdy.
