Yes, it was a hurdy-gurdy. And it you couldn't
"hear" it, you just don't know what you were
listening for.

The hurdy-gurdy has a continuous drone from the
drone strings, and then a melody string that
can be keyed with the keyboard, giving a somewhat
bagpipish quality (but with a string timbre
complete with lots of overtones, which sounds
quite "buzzy"). Unlike a bagpipe though, the
volume and rhythm of the notes can be controlled
through the speed of the cranking. In the hands
of a good player, it can be quite an instrument.
I'd love to have one myself (already have a
couple of autoharps). A much under-appreciated
instrument. Go get "Two-A-Roue" from Jake Walton
and Jez Lowe and open your eyes.

Cheers,

                        -- Arne Langsetmo