Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Music was a fundamental part of life in medieval and early modern Europe. As a result, references to music crop up in many works of art. Indeed, once we begin to look, we find that paintings are positively teeming with musical instruments. It would seem that if there was one thing medieval and early modern Europeans were expecting to find in Heaven, it was definitely lots of music.
Lesley Fraser is an art historian at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been teaching art history for a number of years to both undergraduates and mature students wishing to pursue the subject for personal interest.
This talk was filmed as part of our ongoing quarterly Talk Series at St Cecilia's Hall. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to check out our website for details of the next instalment of the series here: stcecilias.ed.ac.uk
Please note: This is a recording of a live event. As such, there may be background noises and the kind of minor interruptions expected in a live performance. Subtitles are provided for sections which may be hard to hear.
Music was a fundamental part of life in medieval and early modern Europe. As a result, references to music crop up in many works of art. Indeed, once we begin to look, we find that paintings are positively teeming with musical instruments. It would seem that if there was one thing medieval and early modern Europeans were expecting to find in Heaven, it was definitely lots of music.
Lesley Fraser is an art historian at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been teaching art history for a number of years to both undergraduates and mature students wishing to pursue the subject for personal interest.
This talk was filmed as part of our ongoing quarterly Talk Series at St Cecilia's Hall. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to check out our website for details of the next instalment of the series here: stcecilias.ed.ac.uk
Please note: This is a recording of a live event. As such, there may be background noises and the kind of minor interruptions expected in a live performance. Subtitles are provided for sections which may be hard to hear.
