Medieval Musicians

Jongleurs

• They moved from place to place (they were nomad) offering their services
• Consumers of music belonged to EVERY social class and the same TUNES were performed both at Court and in villages.
• Music was an essential way to circulate information (they were forbidden to sing about certain political subjects under threat of imprisonment)

Troubadour = poet composers

• Main subject: praise of women – courtly love
• They always had their particular female muse
• They borrowed from the same store of popular melodies as the jongleurs

14^th century

• Birth of polyphonic music à it distances court music from popular music

Musicians became professionals

By the 16^th century

• Jongleurs – the voice of the people – were banished completely from court.
• Popular music is now performed by Minstrels, either employed by rich patrons or performing at different courts and towns. They coexisted with professional players performing written music and orchestrating dances.

• Non professional jongleurs became “street musicians” (see modern Buskers)