Medieval musicians are going back to their roots at a 600-year-old castle in the Yorkshire Dales.

The unique festival of medieval music is being held at Bolton Castle from September 9 to 11 with hundreds of musicians and supporters expected to descend on the ancient landmark in the heart of Wensleydale.

This year the theme is Medieval Women: Music Makers and Muses with musicians coming from the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Finland.

Organisers are putting on music by the relatively few named women composers of the middle ages, Kassia, Hildegard of Bingen, Beatriz de Dia and others. But there are also the voices of the many anonymous women involved in much of medieval music.

Laments covered include the betrayed 13th Century women whose husbands are away on crusade, to 15th Century tavern songs "drink up girlfriend" and "we’re not drinking".

Gill Page, director of the festival,  said women were also often the subject of medieval song, shedding light on attitudes about women and women’s roles in the medieval period.

She added: “The other principal aim of this year’s festival is to highlight some of the amazing women active in contemporary medieval music-making. Medieval Music in the Dales presents a simply unrivalled array of female voices and instrumental brilliance.

"The female voice raised in devotion from the 9th Century to the 15th Century, with Elisabeth Pawelke, the trio Voice, and Vivien Ellis with Leah Stuttard… the cantigas de amigo with Amor Céu from Finland, a lai of Marie de France with Stef Conner and Hanna Marti, the merry tunes of a travelling minstrel from wind virtuoso Silke Gwendolyn Schultz, plus dazzling vielle from Juliette Primrose, harp from Cait Webb, organetto from Eva Moreda and the sweet voice of Katherine Christie Evans, all performing in our chamber concerts in the castle.

“Medieval Music in the Dales isn’t quite like any other early music festival. As well as the concert series featuring top-whack professionals, the festival offers a great deal of more informal performance in the style of a folk festival; it also serves up an incredible range of workshops, bringing something of the summer school feel as well.

“With our medieval theme, there is often at least an aspect of living history too, and then there is the exhibition, featuring some of the best instrument makers on the scene, specializing in early instruments. A lot of people camp on site at the castle for the festival, and our evening tavern scene has a really amazing vibe, where you might well find yourself playing along with internationally respected musicians or having a bit of a dance to their music.

“The fundamental aim at Medieval Music in the Dales is to get more people enjoying and playing medieval music. It’s a massive, varied and hugely satisfying repertoire and we want to spread the joy.”

See www.medievalmusicinthedales.co.uk.