Instrumental Music in the 16th century

Welcome back to Between the Barlines! I’m your host, Dr. Maeve Berry, and today we’re diving into an often overlooked but deeply fascinating era in Western music history: the 16th century — a time when instrumental music began to step into its own spotlight. While vocal music still dominated, and composers like Palestrina and Josquin des Prez were household names in their time, the 16th century was a turning point for purely instrumental composition and performance. So today, we’ll explore the instruments, forms, social contexts, and innovations that shaped this transitional time — and paved the way for the Baroque explosion to come.Suggested Music Listening:Luys de Narváez Guárdame las vacas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYQpHXiko0sLuis de Milán Pavana del I y II tono (played on vihuela by Eduardo Egüez!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIGIaxGpdBEAndrea and Giovanni Gabrielli 2 Canzonas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEjj3Ud-ckkWilliam Byrd The Hunt's Up FVB 59 (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Vol. 1 No. 59): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZRx-u94_5Q