In the Middle Ages, music held an important place in daily life and religious ceremonies. Several musical instruments were used at the time to create melodies and accompany singing. However, it is worth looking at certain instruments that, contrary to what one might think, did not exist in the Middle Ages.
Modern String Instruments
It is often hard to imagine a medieval orchestra without a violin, cello, or double bass. Yet these instruments did not exist in their current form during the Middle Ages. Instead, we find ancestors of these instruments, such as:
- The vielle: an ancestor of the violin, this bowed string instrument was very widespread in the Middle Ages.
- The rebec: also close to the violin, this three-stringed instrument was played with a bow.
- The rote: a plucked string instrument that resembles a small harp.
But it was not until the Renaissance that the violin appeared in its current form, along with the cello and the double bass.
Modern Wind Instruments
Here again, most of the wind instruments we know today have medieval ancestors. The modern transverse flute, for example, developed from the medieval recorder. Likewise, the oboe and bassoon are direct descendants of the shawm and the dulcian.
By contrast, some wind instruments, such as the clarinet and the saxophone, had no equivalent in the Middle Ages. They were invented in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries respectively.
Modern Percussion Instruments
Many percussion instruments were used in the Middle Ages, especially to mark the rhythm of dances and songs. Among them were:
- The drum: similar to the drums we know today, it was used for both secular and religious music.
- Cymbals: they were often used during processions or to accompany singing.
- The psaltery: a struck string instrument that resembles a small piano. It was played with hammers and was used mainly to accompany religious singing.
However, the drum kit as we know it today did not exist in the Middle Ages. It began to take shape during the Renaissance and developed over the centuries until it became the emblematic instrument of rock and pop.
Electronic Instruments
Of course, electronic instruments such as synthesizers or electric guitars did not exist in the Middle Ages, because the necessary technology was not advanced enough. It is also interesting to note that some acoustic instruments used at that time inspired the sounds and timbres of modern electronic instruments.
The Organ, a Forerunner of Electronic Instruments?
Despite the absence of electricity, it is important to mention the organ, an instrument that was very widespread in the Middle Ages, especially in churches. This instrument, which works thanks to compressed air produced by bellows, probably inspired certain aspects of modern electronic keyboards.
Instruments That Disappeared or Were Invented in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages saw many musical instruments appear and disappear for various reasons: changing musical tastes, manufacturing difficulty, and more. Some of these instruments left few traces and have now fallen into oblivion. Among them were:
- The symphonie: a bowed string instrument that resembles a small vielle, with two rows of strings fixed to a neck and played simultaneously.
- The wheel-shaped psaltery: this instrument, an ancestor of the grand piano, consisted of strings struck by hammers operated by a crank.
Ultimately, the Middle Ages offer a rich and varied musical panorama, with many instruments that evolved or disappeared over the centuries. Although some did not exist at that time, their medieval ancestors testify to the creativity and ingenuity of musicians from that distant era.
Discover every facet of medieval music by learning what functions it served within medieval society. You will see that the religious aspect was far from dominant.