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Why were shawms and trumpets suited to outdoor medieval performances?

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Western music The universality and innate nature of music, and the pentatonic scale, as demonstrated by singer Bobby McFerrin.

In the context of Western music, medieval musicians categorized instruments into two primary groups based on their volume: soft (bas) and loud (haut).12

Shawms and trumpets were classified as "loud" instruments, making them particularly well-suited for outdoor performances, such as processions, dancing, and ceremonial events. The shawm, a double-reed instrument with a wide conical bore, was specifically designed to produce a powerful, reedy tone capable of carrying well in open-air settings, including the tower music of central European cities. Similarly, trumpets were valued for their ability to project sound and were long associated with military operations, nobility, and ceremonial functions.12345

Because these instruments possessed the necessary volume and penetrating quality, they were the standard choice for outdoor or ceremonial music, whereas "soft" instruments—such as the recorder, lute, and harp—were reserved for indoor settings.12