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Nigout hurdy-gurdy
France
Made by
Gilbert Nigout
1889
Lent by the Musée des musiques populaires, Montluçon
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The hurdy-gurdy is a very popular instrument in central France.
Historically, it was made in Jenzat, where a luthier named Jean Pajot founded a veritable
dynasty whose skills have been transmitted through the generations. Gilbert Nigout, who
studied with the Pajot, also settled in Jenzat in the late nineteenth century. A rich
iconography indicates that the hurdy-gurdy has been associated with the bagpipes for
many years in central France. The hurdy-gurdy's drone is produced by a wheel that is
cranked by hand and rubs against one of the strings. The melody is played on the keys
using the left hand, while the right hand turns the handle.
This hurdy-gurdy is typical of those from the Jenzat area, in the region of Auvergne.
It is made of fir, maple and walnut, and has a rounded back. It features three drones,
a trumpet string, four sympathetic strings, two chanters in the keyboard, and 23 bone
and ebony keys. The brand on it reads: Maison fondée en 1863. A la grande
renommée de Nigout. A Jenzat. (allier.) Facteur d'Instruments Admis à
l'Exposition Univ-elle (Nigout, a house of great renown founded in 1863. In Jenzat.
(allier.) Instrument maker admitted to the world exposition).
This instrument comes with a tuning peg called tourne à gauche (turn left).
A leather strap holds the hurdy-gurdy in place on the musician's knees.
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