Medieval Organs As Sacred And SeculareditedFinal Copyrevised

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL1

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL

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Organs Instrument In The Medieval

Introduction

To commence with, most of the items used in mediaeval times are still used in modern

society though they have been advanced remarkably. As a result, it is not surprising to see an

instrument that was utilized in ancient times existing in a different form nowadays. Bearing in

mind that technology has revolutionized everything in our societies, then one must be surprised by

a flute perhaps made from silvers while in ancient times was of wood. With Hellenic origin, “pan

flute” was the first flute in the history of humanity and as historians report this instrument

dominated the music those days

. However, as earlier mentioned during those days, organs were

made from wood and, thus, graduation in length when making flutes brought about the divergence

in pitches.

Besides, it ought to be understood that the pipe organ dates back to the 4th century and was

inherited from Hellenistic era by people of the western world in the 10th century, that is Byzantine

Empire

. However, initially, the organs were not utilized in churches but rather in courtly social

activities, weddings as well as for banquets. For instance, it is reported in the Palace there subsisted

what scholars had called the 'Golden Tree' with 60 pipes of bronze and birds that whistled when

the wind flew. From this prospect, we can see that from the Hellenistic period, organs had changed

from being made from woods. Consequently, profoundly precious minerals such as bronze were

now the chief raw materials for making musical instruments. Again, these expensive organs could

only be afforded by the nobles or rather people from a high-socioeconomic status. However, it

ought to be noted that though many scholars have cited these organs to had been used sacredly,

Caldwell, John. Medieval music. Routledge, 2019

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL3

but again in many scenarios they were utilized for secular purposes. Therefore, this essay is tailored

to show both the sacredness and secular part of organs in medieval times, tracing their history from

the 10th century during the rise of the Byzantine Empire.

Evidence to Support That Sacred Organs Were Secular as Well

Back in the 10th century, from Classical Ingenuity, medieval organs were introduced in the

Byzantine Empire. However, as mentioned above these organs at first were not utilized in church

but rather in weddings, courtly social activities, and banquets. In the Emperor's Palace, musical

instruments were used to entertain the royal family. Again, organs had become such treasured

equipment that Constantine Copronymus in 715 sent a musical to Pepin as a gift. Later on “bellows

of bull leather” having bronze pipes are reported to have taken to the famous Charlemagne of

France as a prerogative honor by the then Emperor of France

. Again, this gift sent to Charlemagne

was accompanied by other musical instruments such as trembling of a lyre and rumbling thunder.

In other words, ranging from entertainment to fostering of relationships among the crowns, pipe

organs were indeed symbols of unity in the society during those times.

The pipe organs instruments then spread to Europe four hundred years later from the

Eastern Empire. However, historians after doing intense research regarding the history of this area,

they agree that it is not clear when these precious organs reached Western Europe. However, some

historians argue that pipe organs were introduced in Western Europe during Benedictine order and

Armstrong, Agnes. "Pipe Organs as Metaphors: Voices of Times and Traditions." The Tracker 61, no. 4 (2017): 24-27.

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL4

became part of the church

. As a result, for the first time, the pipe organs were seen as sacred and

remarkably revolutionized the church music. Thus, polyphonic music emerged among the

Benedictines, and they take the better part of the church service during those days. Again, bearing

in mind that civilizational decline was experienced between sixth and fifth centuries in the Western

Roman Empire, hydraulic organs that hitherto had been used could no longer be found

. As a

result, the only person reported to had a hydraulic organ was the Archbishop of Rheims named

Benedictine Abbot Gerbert. On the same context, this organ was kept inside the cathedral.

Cathedrals as during those times were becoming essential centers of worship in the ancient Roman

Empire. Most of the history of pipe organs in Western Europe is retrieved from the manuscripts

written by Theophilus whom historians say he was a monk. Theophilus spent most of his time

trying to write about the techniques that had been used to make the musical organs. However, it is

said that apart from an overwhelming interest in organ making, Theophilus was interested in the

expertise embraced in making church equipment such bell casting and painted glass and left a lot

of writings behind about the same.

Though at first, the Roman Catholic Church utilized sliders and wind to play the organs,

as time went by they were able to invent keyboard and upon which they could control the musical

instrument

. Nonetheless, wind-mechanism continued to be employed, and for the first time in

I509, Han Suys managed to build a sophisticated organ that via the use of keys, could play the role

Armstrong, Agnes. "Pipe Organs as Metaphors: Voices of Times and Traditions." The Tracker 61, no. 4 (2017): 24-27.

Le, Hoang. "A Brief History of Medieval Music." The Histories 3, no. 1 (2016): 11.

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL5

of trumpets, flutes, Zink among other pipe organs inherited from Hellenistic era. The organs

continued to evolve, becoming more elaborate and producing better sounds. However, with time

differences on how to operate the keyboard erupted. As a result, Italians organs had relatively low

tones compared to the Northern Europe organs.

Generally, in the Middle Ages, the church dominated almost every aspect of life as it had

overwhelming power and, therefore, were leading music producers. Songs were written on

manuscripts by the clerics, recorded and preserved for the congregation. In other words, the church

produced songs such as liturgical hymns, Gregorian chant as well as plainsong. These songs were

referred to as sacred hymns, and organs utilized when being played also came to be known as

sacred organs. According to the church, music was part of praising God and was also seen as a gift

from God. Consequently, some historians report that by playing the trumpet, flute, as well as the

harp they were convinced that the angels were enjoying the music and God, was appeased

. As

shown in above, the Byzantine Emperor used these organs for recreational purposes as well as to

foster relationships with other kings in the vast European continent. For instance, Charlemagne

and Pepin are some of the leaders who were gifted with pipe organs by the Emperor of Byzantine

and King of France. Moreover, it is mentioned that during weddings, pipe organs that were

regarded as sacred later by the church, were used to entertain the crowd. Further, in the Palace,

they could be used to entertain the royal family. From this prospect, historians do ask themselves

whether such use was sacred and definitely, the answer is not, since sacredness is associated with

matters to do with God. As a result, when these organs were introduced in the Byzantine Empire,

they were used for secular purposes and, thus, when people mention of sacred organs they ought

to be specific.

Loei, Y. Y. (2017). The use of harp in early seventeenth-century Italy.

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL6

Nonetheless, the secularity of organs begun in the 14th century where first secular songs

emerged. Song composers who had been used to composing sacred songs started coming up with

hymns meant for secular purposes as well. The music of this kind was free to explore any theme

in the society, unlike the sacred songs that were bound to the religious dogmas. However, for this

reason, historians report that many songs were released and this poses difficulties in studying

secular songs since within a short period the society was full of these songs. In other words, the

emergence of secular songs led to the rise of many composers, and even today most of them remain

unknown to the world. Nevertheless, some musicians and composers remain in the minds of

members of society many years after their death because they were exceptional in one way or the

other. For example, you cannot speak of secular music without mentioning Trouveres and

Troubadours musicians

.They were the first people to bring rhythm into reality by showing the

role it played in songs when used effectively. Apart from these musicians, Adam also existed as

secular songs' composer where the sacred church organs took the better part in the presentation of

his hymns. Another good example of a composer whom many historians also report to have

engaged in composing secular songs was Mauchaut, and most of his songs were polyphonies.

However, Mauchaut like any other composer in Europe composed sacred songs too and made

significant contributions in the two worlds, that is secular and spiritual fields. On the same context,

it is said that the songs for both worldly and spiritual matters during those days utilized similar

musical organs.

Additionally, we had Francesco Landin from Italy, who is up to now remembered for his

simpler melodies referred by historians to as madrigals. Accompanied by flutes, madrigals were

sung, and their simplicity was attributed to their poetry nature. In other words, simple lyrics as

Loei, Y. Y. (2017). The use of harp in early seventeenth-century Italy.

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL7

those of early poetry were used by Landin in composing his songs. England like the other European

nations was not left behind as far as secular music is concerned. For instance, John Dunstable is

remembered hitherto in England as one of the medieval composers of secular music

. Like every

other composer of his time, what the church referred to as sacred organs were used in playing the

songs he composed. Apart from writing sacred and secular music, Dunstable was a figure of

emulation and inspiration to the other composers. It is through the music composed by this

gentleman that Dufay and Binchois felt encouraged and started writing songs as well. As a result,

their names shine in the society because of John Dunstable who was like a role model to them.

Once the two entered the music-composing zone, they used to call themselves as Burgundian

composers, and people from all works of lives flowed into England to enjoy the captivating lyrics

from these composers

. The Burgundian composers as historical texts show embraced tonality in

their songs where towards the end of their music, by going back to the tonic brought a feeling of

completion. Thus, their songs were developed in such a way one could not only tell when they

about to end, but also composed with the emotional sensation that often carried those listening into

a world of fantasy. Again, Burgundian composers came up with secular songs, most of them being

love songs that demanded the use of what the church referred to as sacred organs of music.

From the Middle Ages, secular songs proceeded up to 21st century embracing sacred organs

of the church which have been transformed from their original forms profoundly

. For example,

Xu, Guobin, Yanhui Chen, and Lianhua Xu. "Music in Western Culture." An Introduction to Western Culture, pp. 25-56. Palgrave

Macmillan, Singapore, 2018.

Xu, Guobin, Yanhui Chen, and Lianhua Xu. "Music in Western Culture." An Introduction to Western Culture, pp. 25-56. Palgrave

Macmillan, Singapore, 2018.

Matson, Joseph. "Intertextuality in Popular Music after 1965." (2016).

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL8

we rarely have flutes made from woods, wind-mechanism when playing the organs as it was the

case with the medieval church as well as sliders. As a result, this means that nowadays the expertise

of making organs has been revolutionized to the point of using electric power when playing some

of the musical instruments such pianos and guitars

. However, it ought to be noted that in today’s

society, we have organs that were not in existence in medieval times. For example, classical guitar,

percussion, violin among others could not be found in the medieval era. Nevertheless, despite

technological advancement ushering new forms of musical instruments, these organs continue to

be used in spiritual and secular arrears interchangeably.

Conclusion

In brief pipe organs have their origin in Hellenistic, then to the Byzantine Empire before

spreading to Western Europe. In Byzantine, as portrayed in above were used for secular purposes.

Once they spread to the Roman Empire where hydraulic knowledge had died, the church began

using them for spiritual matters often referring them as sacred. Again, during the middle ages,

these organs were used when singing secular music as already shown above. Thus, it is highly

erroneous for these organs to be referred to as sacred when we know from the history that they

were used for secular purposes as well.

Matson, Joseph. "Intertextuality in Popular Music after 1965." (2016).

ORGANS INSTRUMENT IN THE MEDIEVAL9

Bibliography

Armstrong, Agnes. "Pipe Organs as Metaphors: Voices of Times and Traditions." The Tracker 61,

no. 4 (2017): 24-27.

Caldwell, John. Medieval music. Routledge, 2019.

Le, Hoang. "A Brief History of Medieval Music." The Histories 3, no. 1 (2016): 11.

Loei, Y. Y. (2017). The use of harp in early seventeenth-century Italy.

Matson, Joseph. "Intertextuality in Popular Music after 1965." (2016).

Xu, Guobin, Yanhui Chen, and Lianhua Xu. "Music in Western Culture." An Introduction to

Western Culture, pp. 25-56. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, 2018.

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