This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
by JE Harriman --
This
work is licensed under a Creative
Commons License.
Listening to the earliest music we have, such as Hildegard, is a good starting point. 12th century music is useable if it fits the instruments, but rather than playing music outside our period we can come a little closer.
Though they didn't leave us any written music they were kind enough to tell us how they approached music. Hucbald's tuning systems and various writings on theory such as Boethius give us a structure in which to explore the range of the instruments.
Musically they thought in modes. They did not have our modern system of keys but worked in modes which are a pattern of tones and semitones.
Ionian = T-T-S-T-T-T-S
Dorian = T-S-T-T-T-S-T = Inna Godda Davida
Phrygian = S-T-T-T-S-T-T
Lydian = T-T-T-S-T-T-S
Mixolydian = T-T-S-T-T-S-T
Aeolian = T-S-T-T-S-T-T = Nights in White Satin
Lochrian = S-T-T-S-T-T-T
Ionian, Aeolian, Dorian and Mixolydian were the most commonly used.
Ionian has the same pattern as our modern major scale.
Aeolian is comparable to our minor scale.
Locrian was considered evil and wasn't used.
Traditional, early and simple tunes that conform to an acceptable mode
can be considered appropriate music to play.
Better yet, find a work rythmn on the LHE and put a tune on it. (see the quern song below)
More information on modes can be found at this rather good web site.
On this Sample Tunes Page you will find the begining of a repertoire of appropriate tunes for Regia performances.
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To date (and I've only begun my primary source research) I have found evidence for the following: circle dance to sung accompaniment, men dancing to instrumental music,a woman dancing to instrumental music, men dancing in a line and a man and woman dancing while instrumentalists play.
There is very strong evidence for dancing at wedding feasts from 750 to 1050 from religious laws prohibiting the clergy from joining in the fun (reiterated in MUCH stronger language in the OE 1050 version!)