Also called "organistrum", the hurdy gurdy is a Medievalinstrument that is still used in some parts of Europe as a folk instrument. It has the shape of a viol, but it is bowed mechanically, and has only four strings, two of which act as drones. The melodystrings are "bowed" by a wheel. There is also a system of keys which, when pressed, activate a mechanism which stops the strings at different places, thus producing the tune.
