medieval minstrels
Castle hall entertainers
Medieval minstrels were traveling entertainers in Europe during the Middle Ages who performed music, songs, and poetry, often moving from court to court or town to town.
They sang ballads, told stories, and accompanied themselves on instruments like the lute or harp.
The term now evokes images of wandering musicians in period costume: The festival featured medieval minstrels playing authentic instruments.
- lutePear-bodied fretted strings
- balladNarrative poem or song
- entertainerOne who amuses others
- lyric poetryMusical personal verse form
- harpPlucked orchestral strings
skald · storytelling · folk melody · bard · troubadour · oral tradition · hurdy-gurdy · chivalry · psaltery · jongleur · improvisation · feast hall · king's court · juggling · song and dance · traveling performer · patronage system · drum