Introduction
Medieval Europe featured a rich array of musical instruments crafted from materials like wood, metal, and animal hides. Popular choices included the lute, harp, and flute, alongside percussion instruments like the tambourine and drum. These instruments served vital roles in religious ceremonies, courtly events, and communication within towns and villages.
This blog will explore Medieval Musical Instruments from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Come along with us on a musical journey through the list of medieval musical instruments!
From Lutes to Lyres: The Enchanting World of Medieval Musical Instruments
Medieval Musical Instruments List
1. Ville
The Vielle, a medieval fiddle popular in Europe during the Middle Ages, resembled a modern violin but featured a pear-shaped body and gut strings, producing a rustic sound. Emerging in the 7th century, its prevalence grew in the 11th century, valued for its sweet tones and portability during pilgrimages and battles. The origin of its name remains debated, with suggestions ranging from the French “Vielle” for small to the Latin “villa” for country home.
2. Lute
The medieval Lute, a plucked string instrument in Western and Central Europe, featured a round or pear-shaped body, a neck with a fingerboard and tuning pegs, and 5 to 7 strings tuned in systems like just intonation. Crafted by luthiers using precious woods like maple or rosewood, its resonant chamber produced rich sounds during the medieval period.
The lute, featured in religious and courtly love music, was a common sight in classical paintings by historians like Ducerceau and Gebelin. Its popularity stemmed from its use in both sacred and secular settings, allowing for intricate improvisations and making it favored among amateurs.
3. Psaltery
The Psaltery is one of the most popular instruments during the medieval era. It is a stringed instrument with an angular harp-like body that was plucked. Psalteries were made from wood, boxwood, and ivory. Sometimes they were partially covered in leather or even completely covered by leather. They also sometimes came with gut strings and fingerboards attached to them.
Psalteries, cherished for their enchanting sound, were historically utilized in folk, religious, and Renaissance music. From court dances to modern rock, this versatile instrument captivated generations with its charm, also accompanying medieval poetry known as aelas.
4. Sackbut
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The Sackbut is an early trombone that was extremely popular during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its design allowed it to span a wide range of pitch and timbre.
The term “sackbut” originates from the French verbs “sacquer” (to push) and “bouter” (to pull), describing the slide mechanism’s motion. With a broader bore than contemporary counterparts, the sackbut delivered a powerful, resonant tone suitable for large venues. Despite typically employing brass mouthpieces, some musicians incorporated mutes and trills for added sonic versatility.
In addition to having a unique timbre, the Sackbut’s portability made it ideal for use in large groups such as travelling bands or royal processions. In many religious settings, multiple sackbuts were even employed together to create a grander musical effect, as demonstrated by musical works from this period.
5. Bagpipe
Medieval bagpipes, with a leather bag inflated by blowing through a reed, were prominent in military music during the 11th-12th centuries in Europe. Featuring distinctive sounds and long-distance carrying power outdoors, these primitive instruments were favored by musicians across regions from Ireland to Persia.
6. Hurdy-Gurdy
The Hurdy-Gurdy was one of the earliest string instruments. It had a long wooden body with a wheel and strings stretched from the wheel to the neck. A musician would play the instrument by turning the wheel while pressing down on the strings with keys on the neck. The sound can be described as an aerial drone, similar to a bagpipe.
The hurdy-gurdy is also sometimes referred to as a “wheel fiddle”, as its name suggests, due to its violin-like form. Its origins date back to antiquity though archaeological evidence of its early form appears in Roman times and ancient Egypt.
7. Chimes
Chimes were a popular and versatile Medieval instrument made from metal, bone, and stone. They produced both pitched and unpitched sounds, depending on their form. It could be used for various purposes like signalling the hour, driving away evil spirits or dark forces, calling people to worship, or creating music.
The two main types were canon chimes and single-tone chimes. Canon chimes were arrays of tubes attached directly to a mount or hung with leather strips. When struck with a hammer, they created different tones that sounded harmoniously with each other. Single-tone chimes instead hung from clappers that would vibrate against the columns when shaken, creating a single harmonic tone over time.
Summary
Musical interpretation has changed dramatically since medieval times, but we can still look back on a list of medieval musical instruments and their beginnings for inspiration today.
Today, some Medieval Musical Instruments are still played, while others are rarely heard outside the museum display cases. However, the vibrant history behind the medieval instruments is fascinating – they can remind us how far we have come in our pursuit of creating beautiful notes with simple tools.
Also, if interested, check out “THE HISTORY OF DONEGAL CASTLE and ABBEYGLEN CASTLE: EMBRACE THE GRANDEUR OF CONNEMARA’S JEWEL.”
