Medieval Musical Instruments
By: Christine
The serpent was probably invented in 1590 by Edme Guillaume. They used the serpent in the middle ages to reinforce low men’s voices in sacred music. It blends with voices and gives depth to the choral sound when played well. Two hundred years after the instrument was invented, it was used as a military instrument. Later it evolved into the tuba. Even though serpents were made of wood, they gave a sound similar to that of a brass instrument, and therefore classified as a “brass.” The wood was usually walnut and was typically covered in leather. Dating from the 16th century, it gets its name from its shape. The serpent has six finger holes arranged in two sets of three. It takes a lot of skill and practice to get a pleasant sound since every note depends on the musician’s correct pitch accuracy. The serpent’s construction is similar to a small cornet’s. It has an elbow shaped crook to bring the mouth piece to the player’s lips. Can you believe the tube is over six feet in length!
The Celtic harp also goes by the names folk harp, lever harp and Irish harp. It was important in the pre-Christian cultures and is still around today in a lot of forms all over the world. In the Middle Ages, the strings of the harp were made from wire or twisted animal gut (typically sheep's). Horse hair and sometimes even silk was used as well. The sound of an individual harp will vary greatly from one harp to another. As you know, harps were usually strung with wire or gut. Today harps are strung with nylon. Wire has a sharper, louder sound than nylon, and rings for a longer amount of time. Gut often had a more muted sound to it. Every string is attached to a wooden peg or a metal pin. In order to tune the harp, you have to adjust the wooden pegs or metal pins. According to the Laws of Wales, the three items indispensable to a gentleman, were his harp, his cloak, and his chessboard. The three proper items for a man to have in his house were a virtuous wife, his cushion on his chair and his harp in tune. The harp even had an important role in legend and folklore.
Three Thinking Questions-
1.) Would you rather have played the Celtic harp or the serpent? Explain your answer.
2.) Why do you think the harp has remained basically unchanged today where as the serpent is a relic?
3.) Do you think music was enjoyed as much in the Middle Ages as it is by people today? Why or why not?
