Music was an important
part of medieval society. However, unlike many of the
other aspects of medieval life, music was not limited
to the upper class.
Medieval music began as simple chants in religious settings
and over time, the theory behind these chants expanded
taking on different parts akin to modern day harmony and
counterpoint. As medieval music developed, troubadours
who performed secular music were instrumental in bringing
music to the masses. These were professional musicians
who traveled from place to place, playing music, setting
poems and tales to song.
The musical instruments of the day were quite varied.
While most were quite basic, there were a number of different
kinds of musical instruments available to performers.
One could find wind instruments such as the coronet which
was an early hybrid of a wind instrument and a brass instrument
with a body made of wood, ebony, ivory or resin. The sound
holes would be covered, perhaps in leather, and played
via the manipulation of the wind by opening or blocking
sound holes with the fingers. The unique quality of this
instrument was that while the body was that of a wind
instrument, the mouthpiece was like one would find on
a brass instrument that was vibrated by the lips. In addition
to the coronet, there were flutes, pan flutes and recorders
which were more traditional wooden wind instruments. A
number of string instruments similar to the modern day
guitar, such as the lute, mandolin, zither and dulcimer,
were also played. Early versions of the violin and organ,
as well as drums and jaws or Jews harp, were used in the
creation of medieval music. Songs were also performed
a cappella, or without music, sometimes in churches, often
when instruments were not available.
 Another medieval instrument is called the hurdy-gurdy. Hurdy-gurdies were quite common throughout most of Europe from the 12th to the 19th century. No one exactly knows how the hurdy-gurdy got the name. Some people believe it is derived from an English word "hurly-burly", which means to make a great noise. The hurdy-gurdy sounds something like the cross between a bagpipe and a fiddle. Today there is a great interest in reviving this ancient form of music making.
There is a great deal of current debate concerning exactly
how early medieval music was performed. One of the problems
surrounding this is that in the early medieval times,
there was no standardized system for musical notation,
so music could not be written down and recorded effectively,
only learned by instruction. Early musical notations developed
initially in the church which meant religious music was
what was initially written down. Less secular music was
written down, more so being passed on by instruction,
word of mouth or tradition.
Around the castles and medieval villages, music was an
important part of the daily routine, providing entertainment
and an escape from the daily routine. Music was central
to festivals and tournaments were you could find singers
and minstrels who traveled from town to town playing their
music. Harvest and springtime festivals used music to
awaken the spirits and to usher in the coming of the spring
crops.
While music was readily available to all, wealth did ensure
easier access, sometimes even allowing for musicians to
be employed by lords or barons and to always be available.
In many great halls of castles there were stages or performance
areas built to allow for regular performances whenever
their lord or noble desired.
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