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Welcome to the resource website for Medieval and Tudor music.
You will find here a useful variety of images, information and downloads to use in schools. We have even included a complete Tudor melody with instructions for performing the accompanying dance.
Medieval and Tudor instruments
Our instrument pages provide an introduction to the range of instruments that were played from the 12th century through to the mid-16th century. Many of the instruments featured include a photograph from Trouvere's own collection or a reproduction of a medieval image depicting the instrument. There are also a good number of sound downloads so that you can hear the sounds that the instruments actually make.
The historical evidence for dancing is not as easy to find as the evidence for music though we know beyond all doubt that people at just about all levels of society would indulge themselves in some form of dancing. Firstly and most importantly, manuscripts survive that give detailed instructions on how many of the dances should be performed - the music is usually recorded on the same manuscript. These dances would generally be for the higher levels of society, while records for peasant dances are of course scarce. The best records for low status dancing come from paintings of the period, while Arbeau's Orchesography (late 16th century) actually describes a number of "old fashioned" dances.
You can try out a Tudor dance in your own school. Download the sound file on the Dance page in mp3 format (this can then be played either straight from your PC or burned onto a CD), and print out the web page featuring detailed instructions on how the dance should be performed. You now have everything you need to have great fun presenting aTudor dance in class.
Trouvere Medieval Minstrels regularly visit schools and provide educational fun on dark age, medieval and Tudor themes. . To find out more about using Trouvere in your school click on the 'Trouvere in schools' button above.
