Judging from the number of pictures and references in literature of the 15th-16th centuries the lute became the most popular instrument because any kind of music of any genre could be performed at those times, one could throw it over the shoulder and travel with it to the most remote parts. They were composed by both the most famous professional musicians such as Palestrina, Lasso and thousands of amateurs. Every day thousands of canzones, madrigals, dances for ensemble of several instruments were born in all parts of Europe. It didn’t take much time for such music to appear moreover, in 1503 the invention of the notation printing press promoted quick spread of compositions in Europe. according to a special decree.Ī great number of serenades, balls, festivals in palaces and rituals, wedding parties and just merry-making in urban houses and rural taverns required light and joyful music like the ideology of the Renaissance itself. In some towns they entertained audience from 6 p.m. They played in palaces, in notable citizens’ houses, at festivals. For example, in Scotland there existed a law that ordered to cut a man’s ears who dared to play a musical instrument to entertain public if he didn’t settle and was caught for the second time doing the same, he had to be hung! First being homeless vagrants who wandered throughout Europe, musicians became respected citizens who had their own houses, their professional guilds. Folk music penetrates into all levels of the society while in the medieval times performers of folk tunes were The beautiful music of the Renaissance replaced the Gothic music both in church and in the secular musical practice. However, in the 16th century the situation was different. There is no musical notation for lute of those times (probably, it hasn’t been found yet). To our regret, it is impossible to make a clear idea of lute music of the Middle Ages.

The lute was used as an accompanying instrument in the ensemble of other stringed, wind and percussion instruments and for singers’ accompaniment. From the same sources of information it becomes clear that the stringed viol was the most favourite and popular instrument at that time.

Numerous literary works, pieces of painting and sculpture prove that in the Middle Ages the lute was widely spread throughout the European continent. The direct predecessor of lute is al-oud (means “wood”), the Oriental lute of the times of the Sasanids, the famous lute of “The Arabian Nights”. We find its first pictures in the religious books of Utrecht (9th century) and Stuttgart (11th century).

The lute appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Renaissance lute music