Terry Jones' Medieval Lives Season 1 Episode 7 The Minstrel

Terry Jones' Medieval Lives season 1 episode 7, "The Minstrel," explores the intricate role of medieval musicians in society. In this episode, Terry Jones examines the various types of minstrels and gleemen who were highly popular during the Middle Ages. They were famous for playing musical instruments, singing and storytelling.

Jones begins by describing minstrels as the ultimate entertainers of their time. They traveled from town to town, performing in courts and castles, and were well-regarded by the noble class. Jones explains how minstrels played an important role as oral historians, as they would travel all over the country, gathering and sharing tales of legends, myths, and historical events.

Jones then takes a closer look at the life of a wandering minstrel. He explains how they were often looked down upon by the Church and people of authority because of their non-Christian nature, their seeming lack of a stable job and because of their association with merrymaking, but he goes on to point out that minstrels had a lot of freedom in medieval society and enjoyed a slightly better standard of living than the common folk.

Jones also discusses the numerous types of minstrels, including the troubadours of southern France, the wandering jongleurs and the religious performance groups, the goliards. He demonstrates how each group had a unique style of music, clothing, and personality.

The episode takes viewers to the early 13th century, where a real-life minstrel named Blondel de Nesle becomes the subject of the show. Jones traces the story of how Blondel set out to find his friend and patron, Richard the Lionheart, who was held captive in Austria after returning from the Holy Land in medieval Europe.

Jones reveals how Blondel disguised himself as a troubadour and wandered the countryside, playing and singing in courtly circles to gather intelligence and perhaps offer subtle support to his lord. Blondel's determination to find Richard is shown to be something of a romantic quest, but also an indication of the level of loyalty and devotion between such patrons and the musicians who served them.

Terry Jones' Medieval Lives season 1 episode 7 also examines the hilarious troubadour mocking, where medieval bards would write and perform satirical songs about people in power. Jones describes how they could get away with poking fun at the powerful, but only if they did it with wit and subtlety.

Finally, the episode ends by exploring how minstrels had a profound effect on English literature. Terry Jones explains how poets like Chaucer and Dante used minstrel figures to inspire their works, showing how medieval musicians had an enduring legacy, even beyond their musical performances.

In summary, Terry Jones' Medieval Lives season 1 episode 7 is a fascinating look into the world of medieval musicians, particularly minstrels and gleemen. Through Jones' characteristically humorous and informative style, viewers gain an understanding of the role that music and storytelling played not only in medieval entertainment, but also in political intrigue, espionage, and even literature.