Singers would wander around the countryside, going from castle to castle, from town to town, playing and singing the songs they knew. These wandering musicians were called minstrels. Other minstrels would hear the songs, learn them by heart, and set off on their own travels, spreading the tunes far and wide.
The latest hits
About a hundred years ago, people used to rush to the sheet music store to buy a written-down copy of the latest hit song. They would play the song at home on a piano or guitar.
Pop facts
- The song most often sung in English is "Happy Birthday to You." It was written by two Sunday school teachers from Kentucky who called it "Good Morning to All."
