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 …show more content…
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 …show more content…
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