[Part 1] In the Middle Ages, several musical instruments were used by minstrels, waits, troubadours, or anyone who fancied playing a tune. Medieval musical instruments could be organized in three categories: string, wind, and percussion. The term bas referred to soft instruments such as the rebec, lute, and other bowed or plucked string instruments. The term haut referred to louder instruments. For example, the tabor, sackbut, and pipe. [Part 2] This miniature in a French copy of Reynard the Fox, shows the fox racing after a cat on horseback. Reynard the Fox is a trickster character in medieval literature. The cat is Tybert, also known as the Prince of Cats. In this specific scene it seems that Tybert claims victory over Reynard. The cat turns his head and sticks out his tongue at the fox in mockery. - [Author]

Language: English