Music as a Reflection of the Class System in Medieval Europe

Medieval Europe (500–1500 AD) saw many changes emerge in England and Europe as society went out of the Dark Ages. Some ancient influences of the Dark Ages stayed, such as pagan dance and music-related rituals, but this gave way to church-owned music. Travel, inspired by the Crusades, has resulted to a fresh interest in various cultural elements including music. Music was predominantly monophonic (single musical line) before the Crusades and was mainly chanting within the church for the purpose of worship.

Following the Crusades, Medieval Europe music became affected by Arab music consisting of love songs. The Troubadours, Trouveres, and Minstrels became the foundation for these love songs. Troubadours were a poet school that flourished in southern France and northern Italy between the 11th and 13th centuries. They invented and cultivated rhythm poetry that was typically written about love tales. They were the original musicians who travelled, usually from village to village, and some even accompanied the Crusaders to the Holy Land where they learned about Arabic music. They would produce songs on their return that would tell of chivalry, love, and excellent tales of far-off lands and historical tales. As many of the Troubadours who travelled with the Crusaders were nobles and knights, Troubadour's role became connected to the elite within culture. The elite Troubadours and Trouveres also included Spain's and England's Kings, which was their time nobility. The Medieval Troubadours of northern France were known as Trouveres and they and the Troubadours became associated with music-related poetry.

A fresh class of society emerged increasingly towards the end of the Middle Ages, the bourgeois class. As big parts of Western Europe developed progressively, they merged into towns devoted to trade. These cities ' craftsmen, craftsmen, and merchants were indulged in spending time, money, and status on leisure operations, and so music flourished throughout this era. As the Bourgeois had time to invest in recreational operations, they started looking for ways to spend their time and money. They began to learn to play instruments and to read music as well.

The printing press was invented in 1440 and was manufactured in 1470 sheet music. Music printing had a significant impact on how music spread as it was cheaper to distribute a piece of music across a much larger region, reaching a wider crowd than manuscripts were to be printed and distributed. All copying of the work was performed by hand and was highly time-consuming before the press was invented. Usually, it was performed by monks who wanted to maintain the church's music. Before that moment, secular music copies were restricted and commissioned only by rich nobles. The bourgeois class had more than enough money for the basics, so the economy was stimulated by their desire for more. It was they who bought fresh musical instruments or sheet music. They were also educated in society, so they could learn how to read music.

Churches began offering performances and progressively music moved away from being the domain of only the royal and upper class. A new elite class within society developed that demanded musical entertainment and so operatic performances was deemed a respectable form of music for this group

Specifically, at the start of the 20th C Europe had a huge contingent of nations that embraced nationalism ideals. (Think about WW1). Many composers have developed symphonies based on this nationalism and they have been commonly performed across Europe. 

In conclusion, the evolution of music in Medieval Europe was influenced by various factors, including the Crusades, the emergence of a new bourgeois class, and the invention of the printing press. The Troubadours and Trouveres were important figures in the development of music, as they brought back influences from their travels and composed songs about love, chivalry, and far-off lands. As music became more accessible, it spread beyond the church and the elite class, and operatic performances became a respectable form of entertainment for a new elite class within society. This evolution of music reflects the changes and developments in society during the Middle Ages, and sets the foundation for the rich musical traditions that we continue to enjoy today.