The Mediaeval Folk Band

Subject: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 11 Sep 13 - 08:33 PM

The Mediaeval Folk Band plays perpetually in Beverley Minster.

The Mediaeval Folk Band

Images taken yesterday.

Tone

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 11:17 AM

Very nice!

Here's a bunch of my own from a couple of years back:

https://www.facebook.com/suibhne.o.piobaireachd/media_set?set=a.258450794178255.62296.100000400089391&type=3

These sculptures have been much restored over the years, but I reckon their flavour remains in most cases. I have a theory that the 'Guitar Player' is one of the Fiddlers, plucking the same instrument he can be seen bowing elsewhere.

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 11:20 AM

PS - Here's some of the spandrel 'Green Men' from the musicians gallery; an integral part of the overall scheme I'd say!

https://www.facebook.com/suibhne.o.piobaireachd/media_set?set=a.259345137422154.62447.100000400089391&type=3

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 12:05 PM

Thank you, Canalwheeler. I'm interested in early music, and I find the statues fascinating.

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 02:20 PM

Not quite The Medieval Folk Band, but there's The Early Folk Band who are certainly worth a listen:

http://www.early-folk-band.com/

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 03:01 PM

I agree that the 'guitar' and the 'fiddle' look a lot alike. Perhaps the statues immortalize the very person and the very moment that the guitar was discovered!

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 03:28 PM

I think there was once was an guitar / fiddle type instrument which operated just as well plucked as bowed. We see evidence of these guitar-fiddles in various iconography, often with frets. They parted company when fiddles became more specialised - with the higher arched bridge as they headed violin-wards making it difficult to strum, and the guitar went on to conquer the world by slow degrees with the bridge flattening out to make bowing impossible. Interestingly the viol - especially the lyra viol - remained fretted and often plucked well into the renaissance.

Finding a rule to any of this is the bane of the hapless organologist given the sheer complexity of information, but in the instance of The Beverley Musicians, I reckon the musician's headgear is as much a give away as the instrument itself!

I keep meaning to get one made...

Subject: RE: The Mediaeval Folk Band
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 03:32 PM

... guitar/fiddle that is, not hat! Although I reckon it could be quite fetching ...