Here is an Anglo-Saxon piece of music entitled Dance of the faerie king Joker composed by Gregor ROZMAN. It is a dancing song for the "'jiggle dance' of the middle-aged castles of Anglo-Saxon counties; also a dance song for the legendary male faerie creatures" [1]

Categories of Music

The three types of music that were used in society were "musica mundana, the philosophical and astrological celestial music, musica humana, the music of human bodies and emotions, and musica instrumentalis, musical sounds created with instruments." Instruments were usually only used during celebrations and most of the music derived from the era was vocal [2]

Musical Instruments

Stringed Instruments such as the lyre were most popular in Anglo-Saxon times. They were six stringed and made of wood with gut or horse hair strings. Other stringed instruments include the harp and Rebec, a violin like instrument.

A wind instrument found on many archaeological digs is the bone whistle. It is always blown in from the end, but the number of finger holes varies (from none to six). Another wind instrument is the blasting horn or trumpet which was not only used for music but also when hunting and on the battlefield.

For percussion there was a form of drum known as the hylsung, but no drums have ever been found so it is not certain what they looked like or how the were played. Bells were suspended on a string and hit with a wooden hammer. Also, clapping was used for percussion.

How it Sounded
Musical notation was different modern notation. Many songs were hymns and religiously based, offering gentle tunes to convey the mood of theh message they were trying to send. Many songs were performed according to their subject, such as a war song being sung in a marching fashion. The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle was filled with music that was key to their livelihood. (9)



[3]


This is a picture of an Anglo-Saxon harp. (8)

Anglo Saxon Music History
Much of the music performed in the Anglo-Saxon times was not written down. The songs that were written down are not decipherable today. The few songs that are decipherable are Latin liturgical text this is plainchant ( plainsong) which means "monophonic music consisting of a single unision melodic line without harmony and usually sung without an instrument".(4)

The Anglo-Saxons wrote their music mainly for the use of religion. It was looked down upon to write in a secular way and was many times thought to be demonic. When there was an eclipse or a different great influence to weather, they were not allowed to play wind instruments because they felt that the instrument may be influencing the weather. This was known as Indiculus Superstitionum. (6)

Anglo-Saxon "Modes"
Though no written music was left behind, we do know how the Anglo-Saxons approached music. They did not have keys as we have today, but "modes" which were a combination of tones and semitones. For example, Ionian was a certain tone, and along with Aeolian, Dorian, and Mixolydian, it was the most commonly used. Ionion is also basically the same as our major scale is today. Likewise, Aeolian is similar to the minor scale. For some reason, Lochrian was considered to be an evil tone and it was not used in Anglo-Saxon music. [5]

Demonic Meanings
In the Anglo-Saxon times, many clergy members felt that musical acts were the "persuasive powers of demonic origin" Instruments like wind instruments were forbid from being used to "influence the weather" or " passing of an eclipse". Anglo-Saxons who took part in this were punished. Music was "favorbly" played only for religious reasons. [7]

Music and Poetry
To this day poetry and music combined continues to be a speculation of Anglo-Saxon times. Some evidence exists of poets reciting their poetry with a musical instrument playing low as background music. There is also speculation that poets would sing thier own poetry. To this day it is a mystery if poets were singing or if poetry and music were at all used together to express feelings. Many people feel that only recently in modern times has music and poetry been separated.(9)

Storytelling in Music

It was customary at large gatherings for an individual to sing a song that would convey a story that ranged from religion to heroes such as Beowulf or the Norsemen. People who made this into a profession were called scops and traveled from village to village, telling stories in exchange for food and other items.(8)
A verse of Beowulf:
'... now and then the poet raised his voice, resonant in Heorot... Then Hrothgar, leader in battle, was entertained with music - harp and voice in harmony. The strings were plucked, many a song rehearsed, when it was the turn of Hrothgar's poet to please men at the mead bench, perform in the hall... Thus was the lay sung, the song of the poet. The hall echoed with joy, waves of noise broke out along the benches...'[9]

The Vikings had their own professional version of storytellers, called Skalds. They were usually simple verses that were famous for alliteration and the implication of kennings, a trademark of anglosaxon times. Many of which were called 'Sagas' which told of the exploits of heroes, and others were of simple folk. But an often common attribute to them all was to point out something in society, either as a moral to its story or as satire. (8)

Singing was popular even among the non-professionals and would be done after a large feast as a form of celebration. A harp was passed around an assembly so that every person could recite a portion of a song that told a story. In this way Anglo-Saxons had to learn the histories and tales that were important to them. (8)


Sources
[1] http://www.geocities.com/vienna/strasse/4660/Ambrosia.htm
[2] http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpercy/courses/1001Lovett.htm
[3] http://www.regia.org/music.htm
[4]http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1267
[5] http://mailgate.harriman4.net/~janellen/Musicpage.html
[6] http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpercy/courses/1001Lovett.htm
[7]http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpercy/courses/1001Lovett.htm
[8] http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/6100/6112/anglosaxon_harp_1.htm
[9]http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/%7Ecpercy/courses/1001Lovett.htm
(8) http://www.regia.org/music.htm
(9) http://www.regia.org/music.htm(