What is a serenade: in the Middle Ages, in a classical performance

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The standard of behavior for a man in love was considered in medieval times to perform a song for a person she liked under her window or balcony. It is difficult to say how such a tradition appeared. However, some information about the rules for its implementation has been preserved. What is a serenade, who sang it?

Songs of wandering musicians

Possession of the secret of adding sounds into a melody that is pleasant to the ear, its performance on musical instruments has been respected and welcomed in all countries of the world in all ages. Talented poets and singers walked around the cities and towns, delighting and surprising the inhabitants with their art. In different areas they were called in their own way:

• ancient Greek wandering poets - rhapsods;
• singers of northern European peoples - bards;
• in Spain, Italy - troubadours;
• in England and France - minstrels.

Traveling musicians not only earned their living by entertaining society with their performances. They got acquainted with customs and creativity in other countries, transferred some elements of culture from one nation to another.

Whatis a serenade in music?

The definition clearly states that this is a love song performed by a troubadour in the open air. Under the accompaniment of a mandolin, lute or guitar, knights expressed their refined and noble feelings for beautiful ladies. Some of them could play love roulades tirelessly through the evenings. As opposed to morning chanting, alborades, serenades were sung in the evenings, which is reflected in the name of the genre.

Knightly times are over, but the romantic tradition of nightly love concerts remains. And if the lady's admirer did not possess vocal and poetic talents, he was not forbidden to hire a troubadour or a whole ensemble of professionals to express his feelings.

Later on, love-style music appeared, written for small orchestras. Usually such accompaniments were ordered by more noble and rich lovers.

Later, when traditions changed somewhat, when asked what a serenade was, one could answer that these were calm melodies performed by a chamber orchestra, accompanying a respectable family vacation in the fresh air.

How has the art of troubadours changed?

At one time, Haydn and Mozart wrote serenades for the orchestra to order. Then the genre, gradually fading away, was transformed into a romance. What is a serenade in music today? This is a vocal piece to be performed with a chamber orchestra. Among the most popular compositions, we will name the “Serenade” by F. Schubert, whose words cry out for love: “Songmy, fly with a prayer at the hour of the night …"

Romantic Traditions for a Private Night Concert

As for a knight, as for any lover, there was an unwritten set of rules of conduct, a kind of scenario. After all, not only every girl in medieval Europe knew what a serenade was. The music was heard by the inhabitants of the surrounding houses, so everything had to happen according to the traditions. Moreover, the ladies did not just sit on their balconies, contemplating what was happening. They could sigh loudly and cheer on the singer, or boo and drive away. So, the knight (a fan who decided to openly express sympathy) was supposed to:

• learn to sing with the guitar and compose poetry;
• dress appropriately for the occasion;
• stock up on fresh flowers;
• stand under the lady's balcony or under her window within hearing and visibility;
• take the first chords and wait for some kind of reaction of the "object of adoration" (movement of the curtains, a loud sigh or an exclamation of approval);
• start the performance, praising her beauty, slender figure, kindness of soul and your love for the owner of all this.

What is a serenade? This is a private communication of lovers in the Middle Ages. If the lady likes the number and its performer (the customer of the song), she will show herself in the window or go out onto the balcony, throw a meaningful look at the knight, a flower or (secretly from prying eyes) a rope ladder. The knight is obliged to climb it, regardless of the height from which it was lowered. In any case, the prepared bouquetmust be given to a lady, at least by throwing it out the window.

If a troubadour song, a serenade, a musical composition performed by an ensemble did not inspire a girl, she could ridicule the performance, turn away and leave, slamming the door loudly.

A persistent admirer will appear in the morning and sing his favorite alborade.