A number of social forces were at work creating the culture of the Middle Ages
and Renaissance; the Church, royalty, nobility and peasantry. In the Middle
Ages, music education, composition and performance was dominated by the Church.
During the Renaissance, the influence of the Church began to wane, due to the
influence of humanistic philosophy on Aristocrats and the upper middle class,
helping to greatly expand the horizons of music. In the upcoming sections, you'll
be invited to explore resources devoted to aspects of music in the Middle Ages
and Renaissance. The sites described below are intended as starting points for
those interested in the general cultural and historic backdrop of the period. Web Resources Middle Ages and Renaissance http://killeenroos.com/link/midren.htm An alphabetically organized meta-list of links relating to daily life and culture
in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Excite Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Instruments http://music.excite.com/entertainment/music/history_and_trivia/classical_music/early_music/medieval/instruments/ This is a great guide on line to sites that will introduce you to many of the
musical instruments of the times. Many sites contain not only descriptions and
photos, but also sound files. | 
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education