There are scholarly groups devoted to preserving medieval instrumental music and instruments. For instance, Iowa State University’s Musica Antiqua ensemble has a website devoted to medieval instruments and early Renaissance music. Follow this link to their “About Instruments” page. Choose any instrument from this page. Listen to both the instrumental and musical examples provided. Note your selection and any observations you make about instrumental timbre, tempo, dynamic level, or any other musical concepts we’ve covered. Share the information you learned with your classmates.
Additionally, find and share a YouTube video of a medieval instrument performance and discuss what you saw and heard. It does not have to be the same instrument you chose from the Medieval Instruments and Early Renaissance Music website.
