Entertainment in the Middle Ages
Both people in the upper classes and the lower classes liked to play games like knucklebones, chess, marbles, and checkers. Whistles, little dishes, and dolls were also popular at this time. For the rich, other sources of entertainment were at feasts, banquets, jousts, tournaments, Mystery Plays, fairs, games, sports, hunting, hawking, and animal entertainment. During these feasts, there would be musicians to play music for entertainment. After the feast, minstrels, troubadours, jesters, acrobats, fire-eaters and conjurers performed. Jesters, jugglers, mummers, and others were popular as well. For serfs, they used their limited free time to play Hockey or Stickball, which was similar to baseball or softball. They also played soccer and golf. The only game that included both upper and lower class was Ice Skating (they went when the lakes or water sources froze over). Villagers from all around would go to the fair to buy goods and enjoy the entertainment, including musicians jugglers, acrobats, and trained animals.
Music was also very common in the middle ages. They played instruments such as the flute and organs. The organ was made and tweaked during this time. It originated as a basic instrument operated by heavy smashes with the fist. It rose in popularity to become a prominent piece in church. A basic form of the guitar was developed in the 13th century, as well. The shawm, cittern, and recorder were other instruments played. The shawm was a woodwind ancestor of the modern oboe that produced a very shrill tone, and the cittern is a ten stringed instrument. The recorder, another woodwind instrument, is a hybrid between a modern flute and clarinet. Even though instruments were used throughout the middle ages, most songs were vocal. Songs were mostly based on religion. The Gregorian chant was a form of unaccompanied singing that developed in the catholic church (similar to an acapella). Also, most modern major and minor scales developed and were written during this time.
Music was also very common in the middle ages. They played instruments such as the flute and organs. The organ was made and tweaked during this time. It originated as a basic instrument operated by heavy smashes with the fist. It rose in popularity to become a prominent piece in church. A basic form of the guitar was developed in the 13th century, as well. The shawm, cittern, and recorder were other instruments played. The shawm was a woodwind ancestor of the modern oboe that produced a very shrill tone, and the cittern is a ten stringed instrument. The recorder, another woodwind instrument, is a hybrid between a modern flute and clarinet. Even though instruments were used throughout the middle ages, most songs were vocal. Songs were mostly based on religion. The Gregorian chant was a form of unaccompanied singing that developed in the catholic church (similar to an acapella). Also, most modern major and minor scales developed and were written during this time.