Renaissance Instruments

The instruments used in the Renaissance era may look a bit familiar to modern musicians. They can be considered predecessors to modern musical instruments and share many features with their respective instrument.

The shawm may remind one of a modern day oboe. The shawm was a popular instrument during the Renaissance era, and was developed in the 12th century.

The sackbut is an instrument which later evolved into the modern day trombone. It was popular in 16th century Renaissance music and grew to replace the sliding trumpet.

The harpsichord was an instrument that was used widely during the Renaissance era. Much like a piano, it produces music pressing keys but a harsichord, unlike a piano, plucks a string to create a sound rather than striking the string with a hammer. This particular harpsichord was constructed in 1646 in Belgium.

The lute was a common instrument in Renaissance era music. The lute is a fretted string instrument, a bit like a modern-day guitar. Leonardo da Vinci was among the many Renaissance artists that played the lute.