Saxon Music
The most popular thing in England was music and storytelling. There were
musicians who would sing poems in the social gatherings. Many poems were written
to capture many events such as ‘The Battle of Maldon’; others such as ‘Widsith’
and ‘Deor’ which looks imaginary. It was very easy to memorize the songs of
singing and so everything was written in the shape of poems.
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In England where the Saxons lived there were people who were professionals
in telling the stories of Saxon Music and in return they would get food and
money. This was one of the ways in which they would earn their living. The
person who was very good in this skill of telling the stories of Saxon music
was also rewarded for their skill.
These Professionals were regarded as the as a very well known part of the
society. They also used music while telling the stories on Saxon music i.e.
they would sing a song that consisted the stories of Saxon music. The person
who would tell the story of Saxon music by singing also used an instrument
called harper.
Today also the phrase harp on is being used when somebody is using and
expressing his music in more words than needed. Also any heroic deeds were
also expressed with the music i.e. if a person has done any heroic deed; the
musicians expressed his deeds in Saxon music. The most important feature of
the Anglo Saxons is the requirement of ‘Kennings’. The Kennings is similar
to an unsolved riddle that is described the objects in a very different way.
The professional singers use to take part in the royal halls of the king on
any of the ceremonies performed for the king. They would sing a song in the
praise of the king. The professional musicians who played Saxon music were
given a lot of respect in the society and they became a ‘Count poet’.
The Saxon music was not only played by the professionals but also other
people also used this Saxon music was regarded as an important skill as the
king also respected them. The king would often give them awards for their
professional singing in telling the stories while playing Saxon music.
Another professional who used Saxon music while singing was also called
‘gleemen, who traveled to many different places and then they sing back and
then play.
The professional gleeman might be kept as a musician of the court. The
musicians on the burial of royal family members also played the Anglo-Saxon
music. The amazing thing about the Saxon music was that the people who were
not professionals also played it but to earn their living they would also
play music in the assembly hall.
A singer named Caedmon was not very good in playing Saxon music and
singing and he was ashamed of the fact but one day God inspired him and he
composed a holy song which became a great achievement for him. He was so
grateful to Lord for that he became a monk.
There were other instruments like the stringed instruments, wind
instruments, percussion that was European band in playing the Saxon music.
The life of the Anglo-Saxons was filled with tunes and music wherever they
worked and lived. So the music played an important role in their life.
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