they strove to fill the needs of the ever-changing society, and so we can speak only
generally of medieval musical instruments. They exhibited a wide variety, and from
medieval iconography we also know that, though they can be categorized by type and
name, there was no standardization of size, shape, or design. Though no instruments
could be considered exclusively “French”—most appear to have been adopted by all of
the European countries—some instruments do appear in French sources more frequently
than others, as the quotations here, drawn exclusively from French sources, will
demonstrate.
Medieval Europe inherited the comparatively simple musical instruments developed
during Greco-Roman times: trumpets for warfare and heraldry, plucked harps and lyres to
accompany song, and a small pastoral flute. During the Carolingian era in secular centers
all over Europe, new instruments were developed as part of feudal society and the
beginnings of the courtly traditions celebrated in troubadour and trouvère lyrics. The
introduction of many new instruments resulted from the Crusades, which brought
Europeans in contact with Arabic and Byzantine musical cultures. The variety of
medieval instruments can be seen in Machaut’s Remede de Fortune (ca. 1340), which by
no means includes all of the instruments known to have been popular at the time:
And after the meal you should have seen
The musicians arrive,
All combed and comfortably attired.
They played various harmonies.
For there all in a circle I saw
Violle, rubelle, guiterne,
Leü, morache, micanon,
Cytolle, et le psalterion,
Harpe, tabour, trompes, nacaires,
Orgues, cornes, plus de dis paires,
Cornemuses, flajos, chevretes,
Douceinnes, simbales, clocettes,
Tymbre, la fleüste brehaingne,
Et le grant cornet d’Alemaingne,
Flajos de Scens, fistule, pipe,
Muse d’Aussay, trompe petite,
Buissines, eles, monocorde
Ou il n’a c’une seule corde,
Et muse de blef tout ensemble.
And it certainly seemed to me
That such a melodious sound
Had never been perceived or heard....
And whatever could be played
With finger, pick, or bow [I heard]
In perfect harmony there in the little park[ll. 3959–88].Medieval france: an encyclopedia 1224