Medieval Music : Instruments, Song and Compositions

Medieval Music : Instruments, Song and Compositions By: Brenda Ramirez and Desiree Chavez Houston

The role of music: In Status The type of musicians you had reflected how much power and wealth you had. Royalty and Nobles had their own private musician groups who mostly consist of servants and varlets. Who followed their masters where ever the went Courts loan and borrowed musicians from each other.

Dances, Banquets and Religion • Type of dances were lively and were danced with hops and skips' Steady and slow Had costumes to match with the celebration. A lot of angelic music was played during church service . The organ was mainly used.

Medieval Insturments • Instruments used during medieval times are still used today, except they are modernized. • There were thee categories that they instruments fell under : wind, string, and the percussion. • Some common interments were ; the lute, harp, fiddle, viol, drums, and much more.

Minstrels • Minstrels means little servant . Were castle musicians who created their own ballads but also memorized long poems about myths and legends. Which were called 'chansons de geste‘ • Songs were about love and chivalry but also told stories about far away lands and historical events “ wandering minstrels” • Were traveling musicians • Were replaced by Troubadours later on

Troubadours • Troubadours traveling musicians through villages. Were meant to spread news of the realm. • Most of their music was about chivalry, courtly love and ballads. • Would play for common people and the nobles.

Liturgical drama • Consisted of speaking ,acting and music. • Were plays mostly out of music to preserve Roman dramas mixed with Christian readings. • Inspire by gospels and saints

Strings • The Harp- was favored by the Troubadours • The Fiddle- were played by bow or plucked by the fingers • The Lute – an early form of banjo • The dulcimer- was played with hammers • The Viol- was played between the legs with a bow

Winds • The Flute – Were played by flute- mistrels • The Bagpipe- Was used by the poorest people made out of goat skin • The Pipe - simple instrument • The Recorder- simple instrument with melody holes

Percussion • The Drums- were originally hallow tree trunks • The Cymbal- round concave metal plates • The Triangle- instrument introduced in The 14 the century • The Tambourine – musical instrument mainly used by women

Side note • Too many instruments to name. • We just listed the most popular ones.

Bibliography • Music: http://www.takemp3.com/mp3 • http://news.allaboutjazz.com/news.php?id=73202#.UH9agGfC8f4 • http://www.castles.me.uk/medieval-musical-instruments.htm • Medieval Music by Richard H. Hoppin

Medieval Music : Instruments, Song and Compositions