The Strolling Musicians

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In this cozy scene, two humble street performers serenade a peasant family with a hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes, instruments long associated with folk music and itinerant musicians. The older man cranks the wheel of the hurdy-gurdy, which functions like a mechanized fiddle, while playing the instrument’s keyboard. The younger man produces a melody by fingering the holes on the bagpipe’s lower pipe while the two upper pipes play single continuous bass notes. Their tune has elicited a mixed response: the small child smiles gleefully, while the little terrier huddles in fear.

Source ↗