History Main / MedievalBallads

''My maiden is dancing in the meadow''

Medieval Ballads are a specific branch of UsefulNotes/MedievalMusic and the [[FolkMusic Folk Song]] genre. As the name suggests, the form originated in UsefulNotes/{{Europe}} in [[TheMiddleAges medieval times]], most probably during TheHighMiddleAges, around the late 13th or early 14th century. The songs and styles cover a number of topics, and the most common themes, like ''The Twa Sisters'', are found all over the North Sea. ''The Twa Sisters'' is by far the most popular, as the song is documented all over the area, from Iceland (Hörpukvædi) to Sweden (Systrarna), Denmark (Den förtrollade fiolen), and, Norway, where a number of related versions are found. This particular song is even found in UsefulNotes/{{Finland}}. A Norwegian version traditionally sung: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYwmJ5POH0 click here]]. Not much is known about what instrumental accompaniment was used for medieval ballads, but paintings from the era suggest that lute (a guitar family instrument) players, vihuela (a Spanish guitar family instrument that could be plucked or bowed) players performed with singers.

People were once at odds about where and when the ballad form originated. It was clear that the style owed a lot to the French medieval romance and Myth/ArthurianLegend, but something didn't add up. Eventually, scholars agreed upon it originating at the court of Norwegian king Hakon V, who died in 1319. Thus, the place the style was invented was actually Oslo, at the fortress of Akershus, and in the courts of the king. Development came gradually, but the dance tunes at the Norwegian court became high fashion in the late 13th century, as the king held his court in town and had good contact with France. By 1310, this chivalric style spread out and became high fashion. Most of this can be credited to the Norwegian queen, who saw to it that a lot of french romance was translated. This trend had actually florished as early as in the 1260s, when a good portion of European literature came in norse translations. Much of this material contributed to the ballad style.

* The "troll ballads". Most of those are found in Norway, concern pagan heroes, and recycle elements from norse mythology. Even the god Thor gets cameos. The heroes fight trolls.

Medieval Ballads are a specific branch of UsefulNotes/MedievalMusic and the [[FolkMusic Folk Song]] genre. As the name suggests, the form originated in UsefulNotes/{{Europe}} in [[TheMiddleAges medieval times]], most probably during the high middle ages, around the late 13th or early 14th century. The songs and styles cover a number of topics, and the most common themes, like ''The Twa Sisters'', are found all over the North Sea. ''The Twa Sisters'' is by far the most popular, as the song is documented all over the area, from Iceland (Hörpukvædi) to Sweden (Systrarna), Denmark (Den förtrollade fiolen), and, Norway, where a number of related versions are found. This particular song is even found in UsefulNotes/{{Finland}}. A Norwegian version traditionally sung: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYwmJ5POH0 click here]]. Not much is known about what instrumental accompaniment was used for medieval ballads, but paintings from the era suggest that lute (a guitar family instrument) players, vihuela (a Spanish guitar family instrument that could be plucked or bowed) players performed with singers.