Comments | merlinxarthur: A question.

oxymoronic in merlinxarthur

A question.

Nov 12, 2008 08:36

Hiya!

I'm after knowledge, I'm afraid (but it will hopefully lead to fic.) . I was wondering what kind of instruments would be around at the time it's set? Obviously nothing as elaborate as a piano or something, and there will be the obvious lyres and things, I just wondered whether anyone had any more info for me. Also, would it be likely Arthur ( ( Read more... )

resources: research

Comments 15

cat63 November 12 2008, 08:56:38 UTC

I think harps and lutes were the classic instruments used by bards. I don't think you can go far wrong with either of those - especially the harp if you want Merlin to play it, as it's a traditional Welsh instrument.

Whether a peasant boy would have a had a chance to learn to play is another thing, but the series itself takes huge liberties with that sort of thing, so you can probably get away with it :-)

Arthur, I'm not so sure about - he strikes me as the type who wouldn't want to be seen doing something "soft" like playing a musical instrument (assuming Uther would let him anyway) but might possibly do it secretly...

If you don't get any better information, there's a useful community called "Little_details" where you can ask that sort of thing too.

schizojuc November 12 2008, 08:58:36 UTC

Well I know they had the harp and lute back then.

wrennette November 12 2008, 10:47:50 UTC

in addition to lutes and harps mentioned above, there were basic flutes and whistles, and perhaps early versions of bagpipes, although that is debatable. something like pan pipes or reed flutes definitely would have been around though.

halighfataliter November 12 2008, 12:20:45 UTC

Appart from troubadours, music playing was generally reserved to women. I don't think Arthur would have played any instrument.
But as stated by Cat63, the show takes huge liberties so as long as you don't picture the Prince playing all day long by his window, don't really worry about it. (Except if you're realism-obssessed, which I totally respect).
Have a nice day! ;-)

ebonhush November 12 2008, 17:14:11 UTC

Well, as mentioned before, the 'clarinet-looking' thing was used generally in the middle ages. I know that it's called a 'skalmeje' in Danish, so I think maybe it would be called something similar in English ( ... )