Italian Renaissance Music

Musical composition, during the Italian Renaissance, exploded into a myriad of musical activity. Various instruments came to the scene as well as musical emphasis, such as voices or groups. One popular instrument admired by the Italians was the organ. It was prized because of the complexity. The lira da braccio was a another commonly used instrument during this time of Italian musical expansion. Similar to a what is known as a fiddle, the lira da braccio was usually used when large groups gathered together. The violin, however, was prized during moments when soloists would perform. Solos were extremely common during this time. The Italian enjoyed solo performances for several reasons. They believed that one voice was easier to judge than a mixture of many voices. Thus, during this time a great focus was placed on the individual and the individualistic voices. Besides solos, various groups were also in the musical scene. For instance, they often played in stringed quartets and orchestras.