As a musician, you must be familiar with the hurdy gurdy. But did you know that it has different names across Europe?
In Spain, the hurdy gurdy is called the Zanfona, and in French, it is popular as the Vielle a Roue. Moving to Catalan, it is known as the Viola de Roda; the Ghironda in Italy, and the Drehleier in Germany.
Despite the different names, the instrument is the same everywhere and resembles a violin. In this post, we will tell you about the hurdy gurdy in Spain.
Fate Of The Zanfona In Spain
In Spain, the hurdy gurdy is commonly referred to as the zanfona, a name which was derived from the Latin word Symphonia. Unfortunately, it lost its popularity due to its simple and raw sound, which didn’t resonate with modern audiences.
Even though the zanfona never became as iconic as the bagpipes in Spain, it managed to survive in a unique niche. It was often played by blind musicians who travelled across the Iberian Peninsula, singing and telling stories to earn a living.
These zanfona players used simpler instruments, which were mainly made of rough wood and featured basic string setups. This made the zanfona stand out from other instruments.
Revival Of The Zanfona
In northwest Spain, particularly in Galicia, the zanfona started becoming popular once again in the 19th century. One of the first notable figures to play the instrument during the revival phase was Perfecto Feijoo. He was a pharmacist from Pontevedra who devoted himself to protecting the Galician folklore, including the zanfona.
Another Galician, Faustino Santalices made significant contributions to revive and study the zanfona. Born in 1877 in Bande, he published a detailed study of the instrument in 1956. Between 1929 and 1953, Santalices recorded several albums and even established a workshop school in Lugo in 1951.
The Spanish hurdy gurdy or zanfona had a unique journey. It went from a forgotten instrument to a symbol of cultural preservation. All this has been possible because of people like Perfecto Feijoo and Faustino Santalices. Today, the zanfona has become a part of the diverse musical heritage in Spain.
