minstrel, professional secular musician of the Middle Ages. The modern application of the term is general and includes the jongleurs jongleurs (zhông-glör`), itinerant entertainers of the Middle Ages in France and Norman England.
..... Click the link for more information. . Certain very able jongleurs ceased their wanderings and were attached to a court to play or sing the songs of the troubadours troubadours (tr
..... Click the link for more information. or trouvères trouvères (tr
..... Click the link for more information. who employed them. To these and to some itinerant musicians was applied in the 14th cent. the term ménétrier and later ménestrel, from which the word minstrel is derived, to indicate a higher social class than jongleur. Increasing in number and influence, these minstrels were organized and given protection of the law. Their function was at times similar to that of the Welsh bard bard, in Wales, term originally used to refer to the order of minstrel-poets who composed and recited the poems that celebrated the feats of Celtic chieftains and warriors. The term bard in present-day usage has become synonymous with poet, particularly a revered poet.
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Bibliography

See E. Duncan, The Story of Minstrelsy (1907, repr. 1969).

minstrel

Wandering musician of the Middle Ages, often of low status. The term (and equivalents such as Latin ioculator and French jongleur) was applied in medieval times to people ranging from singing beggars to traveling musicians hired by towns for special occasions to court jesters. The modern folksinger is a descendant. See also minstrel show.

minstrel

1. History a medieval wandering musician who performed songs or recited poetry with instrumental accompaniment

2. a performer in a minstrel show

minstrel (redirected from Minstrels)

Bibliography

minstrel

minstrel
(redirected from Minstrels)