Medieval Fantasy Battle Instruments

ManicMan

ManicMan

Lord
I have a Musician to add to a Skaven unit of Clanrats. However, in the classic era, they only released one Clanrat Musican (well, they released three versions of this one, which I have all three, but it has to be one of my less favourite classic Skaven figures (released as Gashowler, Warpscream and VemonBreath, with Vemonbreath being more a Poison wind version)). It is basically a weird collection of 3 drums being played.

now, when Colin Dixon took over the line in the mid 90s (about 1994), there was a few more added in metal but these were mostly specialised like a Plague Monk Musician with a gong, or a Stormvermin Musician with Drum.

End of the day, they all are pretty much drums. And I wanted something a bit different. RPE do an interesting xylophone but I'm not quite sure on that figure.

So I started to look around at what Instruments were used in real battles in the early Medieval time. There is.. surprisingly little information I could find. Mostly have Drums, which of course would be easy to hear over a bit of distance and used for timing, there is also the Carnyx of course, but I'm not a huge fan on trying to do one right now. They are fair enough instruments but just not really feeling it.

And that's kinda it. Well.. apart from Bagpipes. Possible but I'm not sure they are right.

So... the choice is to look at Fantasy battle Instruments more then real ones. As in, ones which were used in fantasy miniatures and the like but might have had no real use in real world battle. We have various Horns and trumpets, Flutes (which were used much later but not this period).

In theory, I guess one could add a Guitar or other string instrument, though I don't really think they would carry well, you more want something with a strong bass line or a higher pitch sound. A hurdy gurdy might be possible but are a pain to make up (some people claim they very much 'unknown'.. despite versions still being used in the Victorian era... are people soo forgetful?

If I was going for more Japanese style, I would probably use a jinkai (sigh.. soo often used badly in films where they give it the wrong sound) but that doesn't really fit for clanrats.

I guess I might be looking for something a bit weird, but I don't think that is really what I'm looking for... Just kinda not bloody drums.. everyone and his dog can bang a drum, even if they aren't as good as Rick Allen... and quite frankly, very few are.
 
I'd have assumed horns were most popular in medieval times, both historically and in the popular imagination, which is probably just as important when considering the influences upon Warhammer. Roman legions used horns and trumpets, as did many of their adversaries and their use presumably continued into the less well documented early medieval or post Roman era.

Bagpipes originated in the Near East (Anatolia or Egypt) around 2500-3000 years ago and were introduced to Britain by the Romans.

Of course Warhammer also takes in quite a lot of post-medieval influences so drummers are historically appropriate for drilled disciplined fighting troops like Landsknechts whose effectiveness relied on collective cohesive effort. Military drums were probably introduced to the West during the Crusades by the Byzantines, but were also used by African and Indian military forces.

Native Americans also used drums but I am unclear whether they ever served any military purpose.
 
willlucv said:
Bagpipes originated in the Near East (Anatolia or Egypt) around 2500-3000 years ago and were introduced to Britain by the Romans.
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not quite true. There has been alot of debate comparing the Hittite 'bagpipes' as being them, while other say the Greek more.. it's.. very iffy ^_^; as much history is. There are still alot of debates as to if they were even in Britain before the 13th Century, so well after the Romans.
 
Brother Meredith said:
What kinda of music/sounds/beats would most suit rats?
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What kinda music would suit rats?
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The problem with things like bagpipes from a historical or archaeological perspective is that they were never named as such until the medieval period, so one is left looking at lots of possible instruments that may or may not be bagpipes, especially if only parts of an instrument have survived. Historical depictions are more helpful but they are sometimes ambiguous. Softer organic materials like skins or leather rarely survive in the archaeological record unless they were buried in very anaerobic conditions like peat.

One of my favourite archaeological discoveries was a form of bone instrument fashioned from female goat horn which appeared to have been made in the West Midlands, but which was only previously recorded in the Mediterranean.
 
for some reason, I just have one of the last episodes of "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" stuck in my head. The Royal Artillery concert party was finally posted to the front lines where they had to put on a show while the combat was going on. So professor was playing an Accordion. the Basic idea does make some sense, but yeah ^_^ great show.
 
I guess you could look at noise makers, though the challenge might be getting one recognisable and period appropriate. I believe cog rattles have been around "forever", were in use by churches for various purposes and can come as large two-handed devices.
 
At the end of the day drums are just much, much louder than any other instrument, and what you need for marching and maneuvering is mostly a rhythm. Wind instruments give you some added pitch information, and many are quite directional and carry reasonably well. Brass is more durable and less temperamental, so it's going to be better for battlefield maneuvers. (Reeds are cantankerous and crack when the humidity or temperature changes.)

I really think you're best off sticking to percussion. Add a little brass if you want some variety. Just make any old tube and stuck a bell at the end of it. The shape can be as crazy as you want it. But I'd avoid anything like a xylophone or a guitar. Guitars are just not loud enough without amplification. (Trying balancing a classical guitar with an orchestra without a mic.) But drums and trumpets are stereotypical military instruments for a reason. They work well to send the sorts of signals that are actually useful on a battlefield with limited communications. And they're durable. And an instrument that can be learned quickly, like a drum, is likely better than one that requires lots of careful training. What do you do when your bagpiper takes an arrow? The next bloke down the line isn't likely to be able to pick it up and send a signal. If the water boy can understand the drum signals maybe he can recreate them in a pinch. (Might not be pretty, but it could work.)

Anyway, just my two cents. I know pipes have been a military thing, but I suspect it's more recent and more about morale than actual battlefield utility. The physics of sound, the reality of materials, and the practicality of training work in favor of brass and percussion.
 
Skaven lithophones are the way to go. Bang as hard as you like, but can also send messages in eerie tonal form or some clashing (they could even play three blind mice...).

I mean a conch shell has maybe three notes low,medium & high & variations between. Drums is drums. Bagpipes would be funny if something untoward had been skinned (an out of favour grey seer, say).
 
lithophones as in.. Just banging two rocks together? mm... Sounds pretty orcky to me. (or Orcy.. or Orcie? or.. Do I have to spend ages trying to work that one out now?)
 
ManicMan said:
lithophones as in.. Just banging two rocks together? mm... Sounds pretty orcky to me. (or Orcy.. or Orcie? or.. Do I have to spend ages trying to work that one out now?)
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Nope, stone xylophone. More high brow,less Fred flintstone. :) We have one up here in Keswick museum. Even queen Victoria was given a recital back in the day. It toured European concert halls. Kids mess with it now, hell I've even had a go (a friend used to be the curator there). Dame Evelyn Glennie has played it :) ruskin rocks! 😂.
www.bbc.co.uk

Lake District rocks used to create musical instrument

A musical instrument made of rocks quarried from the Lake District is unveiled in Cumbria.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
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