It is no secret that rock musicians have many times drawn significant influences stemming from fantasy, mythology, and history. Therefore, there is no wonder that many of the highly acclaimed and popular classic rock British bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s had been tremendously inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, in particular…
In the passing of time, it should come as no surprise to most hardcore Led Zeppelin fans that the colossal British rock band integrated a considerable number of fine literary elements stemming from the traditions, mythologies, and folklores of Wales, England, and even the Norse lands, into their music. So it is that the combination…
The hurdy-gurdy is a medieval stringed instrument that produces sounds by manually rotating a hand crank that is connected to the wheel which stimulates the strings. Although quite obscure and unpopular nowadays, during the Middle Ages this instrument was an almost indispensable part of the medieval folk music in present-day France and much of the…
Medieval music is characterised by the historical period encompassed between the years 400 to 1400. Its two main branches are represented by liturgical (i.e. religious) and secular (i.e. non-religious) music. On the other hand, with respect to the usages of instruments it’s important to mention that there can be identified three main musical categories as…
Music was certainly a pivotal part of the culture of the Norsemen during the Early Middle Ages, as it was for the rest of the European peoples of their time. The music of the Norsemen represented an important way of expressing the heroic deeds of exploration, bravery or victory in battle, as well as the…