The terms "minstrel," "bard," "skald," "scop," "gleeman," and "trouvere" (southern French), "troubadour" (northern French)," and "minnesinger" (German) have been around much longer than the term "folk singer." The latter was coined by Johann Gottfried von Herder (18th century) when he urged composers who wished their music to have a "national character" to study the songs of the common people ("das volk").

Many scholars believe that works such as Homer's Illiad, Odyssey, and other long works of this sort would be chanted to a preliterate audience by, essentially, an early day minstrel accompanying himself on the lyre. Also, later works such as Beowulf (over 1,000 years old) was delivered by a scop or skald, chanting and accompanying himself on the Anglo-Saxon lyre-harp. Beg, borrow, or steal a copy of the DVD of Benjamin Bagby's authentic performance of Beowulf, according to the best scholarship. He delivers it in Old English (not easy to understand, but stirring nevertheless).

Nothing "precious" about being a minstrel. In one form or another, it's an ancient, honorable occupation, possibly several thousand years old.

MUCH fascinating stuff HERE.

Don Firth

P. S. Most buskers probably have no idea of how old what they are doing really is. Wandering minstrels have been singing in the marketplace or town square for many hundreds (or thousands) of years, in hopes of a few coppers being tossed their way. . . . If they were lucky, they might get hired by some nobleman to sing in the manor house or castle.