History
"There is a further possibility that the Hurdy-Gurdy originated in a country where all contemporary records of it have been destroyed either by man or the natural ravages of time, or where no records were ever made." (Palmer, 1983)
The Hurdy-Gurdy has been seen as far back as Egyptian sculptures, and evidence even of it being part of the Persian empire in the same era. With such a vast history, below will be a focus upon the instrument as a Catholic church instrument and its social changes until modern times.
Catholic Church
The Hurdy-Gurdy was apart of the Catholic church for over 500 years and at that time was known as the Organistrum and was a two-person instrument for part of that time. With the unique droning sound it produces it worked well with the choirs, able to continue the tone of the music without need of having to breathe like the performers themselves.
Shrine of St. James
The Shrine of St. James in Spain is a very popular place for pilgrimages. This location kept the Hurdy-Gurdy popular in the church even as it was falling out of favor due to the church Organ becoming part of the cathedral architectural design across Europe. The Shrine of St. James was known to have skilled performer amongst the monks, and there have been many depictions of the monks of St. James playing the Hurdy-Gurdy alongside angels.
