Hurdy-gurdy (or Organistrum, Vielle, Dreihler, Lira Korbowa) is a stringed instrument where traditional bow has been replaced with a wheel and crank and typical neck replaced with a mechanical box with buttons.
Typical Hurdy-Gurdy have one or two melodic strings (Chantelle) and 2 to 4 drone strings called Bourdons. Most of French versions of that instrument have additional "buzzing" string named Trumpette which produces rhythmical sounds especially useful in dance music.
Wheeled Fiddle (another name of the same instrument) has been played on courts in Medieval Ages and along centuries become popular folk instruments also among peasants. Many Hurdy-Gurdy players were wandering troubadours and minstrels who travel from one village to another entertaining people during weddings and other feasts.
In a times of French Revolution this instrument has been forgotten among aristocracy as unable to play multiple chords progression and was limited to a single drone chord.
Hurdy-Gurdy is typical European instrument and have various specific versions in many European countries.
My instrument have two melodic strings and 3 drones - has been handcrafted by one of most experienced Polish hurdy-gurdy makers - Stanislaw Wyzychowski.
Swedish Bagpipe (Sackpipa) - set handcrafted by Canadian isntrument maker - Boris Favre.
Medieval paintings in churches suggest that the instrument was spread all over Sweden. The instrument was practically extinct by the middle of the 20th century; the instrument that today is referred to as Swedish bagpipes is a construction based on instruments from the western parts of the district called Dalarna, the only region of Sweden where the bagpipe tradition survived into the 20th century. The bag is notably smaller than that of many other bagpipes. This, however, is no major problem as the pipes require relatively little air. The chanter has a single cane reed and a cylindrical bore, with a range of one octave.
A drone pipe from bulgarian Gajda has been used at the photo.
Khushtar is part of the ancient Uyghur musical tradition. It was handmade in the tradition of Uyghur Master Instrument makers in Kashgar, Xinjiang - western border of China and Turkestan.
Khushtar is made from the wood of a mulberry tree. It has 11 strings; four are for playing, as with a normal violin, and the others are sympathetic strings that resonate along with the bowed strings (similar to a viola d'amore).The Khushtar is named for the carved bird that is placed on top of the handle. Khush means bird, and tar means strings. The sound of a Khushtar is very clear and resonate, reminicient of a birdsong. The Khushtar evolved, in ancient Kashgar, from the venerable Ghijek instrument.