Music and entertainment of a medieval man

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

We are well aware of the way of life of a medieval person, in which there was a lot of work and little rest. The Lord ordered to work, and the church forced to live in obedience and pay for sins. But the ordinariness and dullness of medieval everyday life could not completely dominate the minds. The German theologian, the brightest representative of the late medieval society, Martin Luther once said: "He who does not love wine, women and songs, will die a fool!" The society of Old Europe is skillfully entertained.

Feelings of a Medieval Man: Reaction

Modernity knows a lot of characteristic features of the manifestations of human emotions. Etiquette and norms of behavior in society impose certain prohibitions on violent outbursts of joy or discontent. Such attacks can generate resentment and judgmental looks.

The Middle Ages were not so restrained: the laughter was loud, the tears were inexhaustible, the fun was noisy, the rage was unbridled. A modest and sly smile was characteristic only for courtly events. Chroniclers and artists did not note the aforementioned phenomena in their works, and poets and novelists adopted these artificial images of the elite's behavior.

However, outside the framework of the aristocratic society of the Middle Ages, one can observe creepy gestures and grimaces, heart-rending roars and wide-open mouths that burst into laughter.

And what are the holidays without processions and music? People walked through the cities and villages, sang in chorus with instrumental accompaniment: drums, flutes and other instruments were present at such events.

The information is primarily related to church music. Medieval music has come a long way: from the Roman heritage through Arab influence to the special songs of the vagantes and troubadours. Epic works coexisted with completely everyday stories about love, hunting, work, etc.

We do not know much about folk holiday songs. And what a holiday without dancing? Medieval miniatures and paintings by the authors of the early Renaissance are full of dance plots. Women and men danced separately in their respective circles. In the 15th century, noble Europeans knew a kind of "white dance" - karol.

The Church again turned a blind eye to such things and condemned. However, the clerics themselves danced in a circle at the altar, holding each other's fingers.

And what about a holiday without a table bursting with booze and food, without going to a noisy tavern and, of course, without a dashing massacre? For the privileged part of the population, buffoons, nomadic musicians and singers who sang the love affairs and exploits of true knights were invited to the holidays. Ordinary people contented themselves with one-on-one fights somewhere in the city outskirts or enthusiastically watched the process at the gallows.

But still there were more humane entertainments: jugglers, troubadours performed on the squares, and later theatrical performances - mysteries - appeared. Actors at such events had enough freedom to show all the vices and punctures of the local authorities, as well as to highlight all the advantages of the moral development of society. Plays and performances were free and independent, but by the 14th century, the city authorities had taken artists under their wing to avoid nagging from churchmen.

A common man walked along with the procession, sang songs, clapped his hands to talented artists, drank in medieval taverns and sometimes participated in collective fights. Things like that brought him pleasure.

Outdoor games of medieval Europe

For a person of the Middle Ages, play is always a meaningful activity that could give fame or money. And it doesn't matter at all what awaited the participant: an inglorious defeat or a dizzying victory. He fought anyway and took risks and cunning. The game evoked a lot of different feelings and emotions. Since the 9th century, priests have formed their attitude to such activities: this is a useless and meaningless occupation that takes a lot of time, which should be devoted to prayers.

In cities, people played ball or rounders. The ball game was more reminiscent of modern tennis: a ball of straw or wool was thrown over a net or a wooden wall with the help of peculiar rackets. The rackets were made of wood. Lapta was a more massive, team entertainment: they played with the whole family, the workshop and even the clan.

Medieval rounders may seem quite traumatic now: a solid object made of wood was kicked with hands, feet, and sometimes with a stick.

How can you live without board games? Especially gambling. Bones gained wide popularity in the folk environment of medieval Europe. Everyone played: from the most unprepossessing poor people to large tycoons. They played, of course, for money. The environment surrounding the game added fuel to the fire: noisy taverns, alcohol, weapons. For cunning or cheating, one could get a fist or a dagger. Card games in Europe appeared only in the 15th century at the dawn of the era of the great geographical discoveries.

The medieval entertainment industry carried a lot of positive energy, but the over-emotionalism of European society left its mark on it. Holidays, games, feasts could both bring together the most diverse representatives of society, and aggravate relations between them.