Lesson 4: Instruments of the Renaissance

Lesson 4: Instruments of the Renaissance

A wide variety of instruments were used to produce Renaissance music. Many of the instruments had been invented during earlier time periods or were adaptations of these instruments. Some instruments, however, were invented during the Renaissance period. Let's take a look at some of these instruments and the uses that they had during this time period.

As with earlier time periods, percussion-type instruments were an important part of the music of this time period. Drums, tambourines, and bells were commonly used. In addition, the mouth harp (also known as Jew's harp, English trump, or guimbarde, among other names) was used. This instrument, developed long before the Renaissance, produces different tones depending on the vibration produced.

Brass instruments were also commonly used in Renaissance music. Generally, they were used by professional musicians, rather than being played by average individuals in their leisure time. Although some of the names may be familiar to you, the early forms of these instruments were somewhat different from the modern instruments that we see today. For example, early trumpets had no valves, and a slide trumpet was more similar to a trombone (although it was 'S' shaped during the Renaissance). The sagbut, a type of trombone, was used in churches with sacred music pieces.

Woodwinds were another set of instruments that were used. These instruments had their foundations in the ancient flutes and instruments that created music when the musician blew air through the instrument. By definition, woodwinds are instruments that involve a column of air within a pipe, and they often include holes along the pipe that allow the musician to control the vibration of the air and thus control the tone or length of the sound. The woodwinds of the Renaissance were simpler than those produced today, but they included some instruments that we still see, including bagpipes and recorders. In addition, other instruments were used. For example, shawms were woodwinds that were about twelve inches long with seven finger holes. The shawm was the most popular double reed instrument of the Renaissance period, perhaps because it was loud enough to be played in the streets or with other louder instruments like drums without being drowned out.

String instruments were also common during the Renaissance. In addition to some of the earlier stringed instruments such as lyres, musicians also used viols, harps, harpsichords, and lutes. Viols were developed in the fifteenth century and were played with bows. They had six strings and the instrument was rested between the musician's legs in a similar position to the cellos we see played today. Another string instrument used was the hurdy-gurdy, which was also known as the wheel fiddle. This instrument features strings that are surrounded by a wheel, which is turned by a crank mechanism.