INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN THE RENAISSANCE

Instrumental music became more important during the Renaissance though is was still subordinate to vocal music. The instruments were usually used to accompany voices or play music intended for singing. But during the 16th century, instrumental music became increasingly emancipated from vocal models: more music was written specifically for instruments, composers began to exploit instruments' particualr capacities when writing insrumental solos, and purely instruental forms were developed. Most of this instrumental music was intended for dancing.

Renaissance instruments produced softer, less brilliant sounds than the instruments we hear today. Most came in families of three to eight, ranging from soprano to bass, and often several members of a family were played together. But composers did not specify instruments: a piece might be performed by different instruments, depending on what was available and standardized orchestras and ensembles did not exist.