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Harper

Harper.jpg Johanna de WarnThumbnailsGroup of English Knights and French Men-at-ArmsJohanna de WarnThumbnailsGroup of English Knights and French Men-at-ArmsJohanna de WarnThumbnailsGroup of English Knights and French Men-at-ArmsJohanna de WarnThumbnailsGroup of English Knights and French Men-at-Arms

The custom of having instrumental music as an accompaniment of dinner is still retained by her Majesty and by some of the greater nobility, by military messes, and at great public dinners. But the musical accompaniment of a mediæval dinner was not confined to instrumental performances. We frequently find a harper introduced, who is doubtless reciting some romance or history, or singing chansons of a lighter character. He is often represented as sitting upon the floor.