Dream, Medieval Hall W/ Old Instruments

[Lady2]

I had this unusual dream last night...

It was Medieval times, I was in a very dimly lit castle hall. I was sitting amongst Medieval people dining at this huge table, there had just been a victory of some kind and they were celebrating. I was observing as my modern self though, I wasn't one of them. There was a fire roaring in the large fireplace, and there was a group of 4 or 5 musicians standing in a circle in front of it, playing a tune. They were playing these large long wind instruments - hard to describe as I've never seen the like of them before! They were almost as long as the musicians were tall. When they finished, I approached one of them and asked him what instrument he was playing. He smiled, and said he didn't know how to spell it, he would find out and be right back. I laughed and made a joke about 'crazy Italian spelling'. He came back shortly, and I saw the name written down. It was 'Zanzabar'. I thanked him, and the dream was over.

I woke up, wrote it down, and later got on the internet briefly to try and learn what it meant. So far, I have found nothing on the word. Perhaps it was an old name not used anymore? Not the instrument, but the tune name? A place name? I don't know. But when looking at Medieval instruments, I found the following pictures of the 'Shawm'; reading about it, it was played up until the late 1500's, I'm sure that's what they were playing, as it looked very much like the pictures.

But why would I dream this, and why was it so important that that musician tell me that word?....

 

[BriarRose]

I've seen and heard a shawm played. I associate them with Switzerland. Perhaps the name "Zanzabar" (Zanzibar) was important because you were involved in the spice trade. Cloves were imported from Zanzibar, and were used to freshen the breath, and preserve and flavor food.

 

[tanguerra]

The recorder was a very popular and prevalent instrument from that time. They came in all shapes and sizes from tiny to enormous.


http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/r_record.htm

 

[Mama2HRB]

Is there a place called Zanzibar? The idea I get is that it is to draw your attention to an area.


I could of course be wrong.

 

[argonne1918]

Zanzibar is in Africa. I think it is or was a country. They may have changed the name by now.

 

[BriarRose]

It is part of an archipelago off the coast of Africa, and became known as the "Spice Island".

 

[Blueheart]

But why would I dream this

If you think back, I bet you were wondering something that sparked this dream. What it would sound like? What it would really feel like? Something like that.


Your dream seems to me like a "We were here! We were here!" dream. Like in the Dr Seuss story Horton Hears a Who. You had the "ears" to hear (literally, actually) and the imagination to experience, not what history claims it was like, but rather, what it was really like.


There are many things in your dream which ring true. The fact that the musicians were in a group of 4 or 5. If you look up the waits, you will see that was pretty standard. The fact that this was an unusual celebration. If you read about shawms, as you must have, you will learn that they were so piercing they were rarely played indoors. It would probably have to have been a royal or military victory party, in order for that to happen.


As for the note, I would not place too much emphasis on it. Have you ever noticed how written text in dreams is extremely mutable? The Zanzabar name might have just been pointing to the origins of the instrument. Or it could have designated the specific size shawm he was playing, as the different sizes (alto, tenor, bass) seem to have had different names. Also, it would not have been unusual for a troubadour to have given his personal instrument it's own name.

 

[Lady2]

Thank you all for your replies! I enjoyed reading through them.


You make some interesting points Blueheart...The number of players rings true. The gathering being because of a victory, was quite real. However, you note that the Shawm was 'piercing', the music I heard was not...It was quiet, soft, did not interfere to much with the conversation at the table. So, it must have been a different instrument from the shawm, but similar in looks...Will have to read more about them!


As a side note, I myself am a musician in this life, and also was once a musician during the late 1600s, and 1800s...I noticed myself paying special attention to the music during the dream, (unlike many others around me), just as I do anywhere I go.


Zanzabar/Zanzibar remains a mystery to me...It was the first time I have ever seen a word written down and given to me like that in a dream. Perhaps it will make more sense one day!


Thanks again to everyone who read & shared what they could!