Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19981010075258.00c49e74@mail.swbell.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 07:52:58 -0500
To: mn13189@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU, Minstrel Mailing List <minstrel@pbm.com>
From: Rex Deaver <rdeaver@swbell.net>
Subject: Re: minstrel: Bardic, Period, and assorted rantings...
In-Reply-To: <Pine.PMDF.3.95.981008091957.549655177A-100000@WCUVAX1.WCU.
 EDU>
References: <3.0.3.32.19981007215051.00704714@mail.swbell.net>
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At 09:27 AM 10/8/98 -0500, mn13189@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU wrote:

>I don't know about where you are from but around here anyone who plays an
>instrument, ESPECIALLY one who is skilled enough to be considered a master
>at it by his peers, is considered a minstrel. 

Frankly, I know of no active performer in this kingdom (Calontir) that
calls themselves a minstrel.  There are bards and there are musicians, and
members of both groups are sometimes quite emphatic about the distinction.

>I already stated (with documentation) in an earlier post, the term
>minstrel (in Anglo-Norman Britian at least) was used to mean
>"instrumentalist" generically.  

No, milord, it was only used that way in a specific context.  In others, it
was used as we would use "carnie".  In still others, it was used as the
name for a common oboe/shawm type instrument.  

But overall, the most sustained usage of the word was as a member of an
entertainment guild, student of the art, professional.  Natural equivalent
of the bards, skalds & scops.  Went *back* to school most years during Lent
to brush up the old and learn new.

*That* is what it meant to be a minstrel for most of 3 centuries.

>I am certain that I can find loads of evidence for Elizabethan minstrels.

I am sure you can find loads of evidence of the *word*, but it's definition
varied wildly.  I can find the word "car" going back to most ancient times,
but the only thing they have in common with what we call cars is wheels.:-)

Mathurin

--
"Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune."
	 -- Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)


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