MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

of the Renaissance

Renaissance Instruments

• The Renaissance saw the development of a variety of instruments that closely resemble those of today

• As with modern instruments, these were often grouped into “families”.

• The two most important families were the VIOLS and RECORDERS

The Viol Family

• The viols are often described as the ancestors of the violin family, but this is not in fact the case.

• Viols and Violins existed side-by-side and were used for different purposes

The Viol Family

• Viols were quieter than Violins and were designed to be played indoors

• Violins were much louder and more suitable for dance music and outdoor activities

The Viol Family

• The Viol has FRETS (like a guitar) but it is played with a bow.

• It has SIX strings whereas the Violin only has four

• What other differences can you see between a Viol and a Violin?

The Viol Family

• A Consort of Viols. What do you notice about the way they are being played?

The Recorder Family

• Recorders were also very popular instruments during the Renaissance period and are of course still played today

The Recorder Family

• The recorder also comes as a family of several instruments

• Many well-to-do families would have had “a chest of recorders” (a boxed set) and would have brought them out and played them as a means of entertainment

Other Renaissance Instruments

The Lute

• The lute is thought to have existed as far back as ancient Egypt

• During the early Renaissance, it was used principally to accompany singers

• Later, it became a solo instrument in its own right

The Sackbut

• The Sackbut is a brass instrument which is clearly the ancestor of the modern trombone

The Shawm

• The shawm is also thought to have existed in antiquity

• Shawms originated in the Middle East

• The Shawm is the predecessor of the modern Oboe

The Serpent

• The Serpent is a bass wind instrument

• It has finger holes like a woodwind instrument but uses a mouthpiece like a brass instrument

• It is no longer in use today, but is thought to be a distant relation of the Tuba

The Crumhorn

• Another reed instrument that originated in the Middle East

• The Crumhorn is no longer in use today and did not develop into a modern equivalent

The Cornett

• Cornetts sound like soft trumpets but are made of wood and have finger holes

• They often played with the Sackbuts

• The Cornet today is a type of Trumpet