Music to Accompany the Plays

Video of Modern Performance of York Mystery Plays

The video link not only shows the York Cycle plays beings put on in a modern setting, it also shows some authentic musical instruments from the medieval time period that would have been a major part of the pageant plays.

Some of the instruments that might have been part of the pageant plays are:

• The Harp: one of the most ancient types of stringed instruments. It was important in pre-Christian cultures and still survives today in many forms all over the world. In the Middle Ages strings were made from twisted animal gut (usually from sheep), although horse hair and even silk were used as well.

• The rauschpfeife is a loud reed-cap instrument with a double reed. The name comes from the German rausch (noise) or rusch (reed). The Italian name for the instrument, schreierpfeife, is from schreien (to cry or scream). The rauschpfeife's screaming sound, full of overtones, gives it enough carrying power to be used outdoors, unlike the other reed-cap instruments.

• The shawm was the most important double reed instrument of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The shrill piercing tone of the medieval shawm made it suitable for use outdoors. It is still found in Asian and European folk cultures today.

"Medieval and Renaissance Instruments." Iowa State University Department of Music & Theatre. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. <http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/instrumt.html>.