Minstrels In The Middle Ages

During the time of the Middle Ages there were many professions a person could have in the average life. In this time period the jobs a person had would often reflect how their lives were going to go. The lives of a lord, knight, monk, nun, peasant man and woman were all very different. This was a time when castles were used to protect the higher ups of society and a time when people were paid to play music and recite poems as entertainment. The Medieval times were full of songs and poetry. Many poems consisted of myths and old tales. Those who played music for a living were called minstrels. These minstrels were seen as entertainers for this time period. Those who recited poems were called troubadours. These troubadours also were accompanied
by music but in a much different style than the minstrels. During the middle ages minstrels and troubadours were seen as highly respected entertainment figures making their lives and working conditions much different from those of a different occupation. Minstrels played a huge role during medieval times by providing entertainment of music and poetry.
These minstrels were essentially a group of men that based their lives and income off of arts of music and poetry, and sang poems to accompany a harp, lute or another instrument. A minstrel was originally a servant and then would later be employed as an entertainer that traveled and provided music around all of Europe. After some time a minstrel was able to climb up the ranks and then provide music for a castle. This was seen as the highest form of minstrel, receiving the best pay. The word minstrel doesn't actually mean someone who plays music or read poems, it means “little servant” because all minstrels started out as simple servants. Minstrels played different genres of music for the people. Some songs they and would be their own creations called ballads. These ballads were written by the minstrels themselves. Other songs would be long poems based on myths that would then be memorized and sung aloud accompanied by harp or lute. Many minstrels were considered “wandering minstrels”. These types of minstrels would travel around western Europe and provide entertainment for fairs, feasts and festivals. The wandering minstrels played instruments more suited for traveling such as fiddles, lutes, recorders and other percussion instruments. The minstrels of this time had a great reputation amongst the community. They were always seen as an uplifting image to others, they'd wear
bright colored clothing and costumes while riding on horses from one castle to another. As they rode horses they would play their instruments and song aloud the songs from memorization. The wandering minstrels were actually so sought after that people would pretend to be real minstrels. King Edward IV organized The Guild of Royal Minstrels which was a guild that ordered all medieval minstrels to join. This would eliminate any people that would fake being a minstrel just to travel across the country. Minstrels who traveled often would hire Jongleurs. The jongleurs would be a piece of side entertainment while the minstrels played the music. The minstrels would often take them with them while traveling to provide an extra source of entertainment being that they didn't have their full sized instrument with them. during the Middle ages minstrels were looked as highly respected individuals. This time period did not have many sources of entertainment as there were not many activities to watch like movies or games to play. This time period was infatuated with music and performances. The minstrels would sing traditional English favorites to provide known musical tunes for the average person to sing along to. Minstrels had lives and working conditions much different from the average person during this time period. Medieval minstrels were soon replaced by Troubadours.
Troubadours were slightly different from minstrels though. Different for the better most would say. The troubadours were similar to minstrels in the fact that they provided music and entertainment to the people, but troubadours incorporated many more famous poems and sang them aloud. This caused the troubadours to rise in popularity over the minstrels eventually replacing them and forcing rh minstrels to become travelling musicians. Originally, the troubadours started off as traveling musicians. The medieval troubadours started traveling from village to another also traveled to different countries. They would often travel to the major cities of Europe and perform on the streets of a crowded area as entertainment. Other troubadours would play for the people who went on the Crusade in the Holy Land. The ones who traveled allowed news to be heard all across the country being that the songs sung were mainly about Courtly Love and Chivalry while also telling stories if significant events and far away lands. These medieval troubadours were originally poets and musicians in Provence, France. Troubadours were much different depending on where they originated and where they traveled to. Troubadours that lived in Germany were known as minnesingers also know as, singers of love, and were seen as such a huge aspect of life in Germany for this time period. Many people would gather to see them perform just by themselves. This is what
made them much different from French troubadours. The french troubadours usually hired jongleurs to accompany them while the Germans did most on their own or with simply just the music and no extra source of entertainment. The jongleurs did not provide much entertainment as the lead role in the actor musical form, but they were seen as assistants to the troubadours. The medieval troubadours sang ballads of long poems about chivalry and courtly love that they were required to memorize