Organistrum
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Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The organistrum is an early form of hurdy gurdy that originated in northern Spain as an instrument used for singing instruction in monastic settings. Generally considered the ancestor of all subsequent hurdy gurdies, the organistrum differs substantially from later instruments in that it was played by two individuals: one turned the crank while the other pulled the keys upward to change the pitch of the melody strings.
