The early music movement is a rediscovery of sounds and styles that have become unfamiliar. The instruments are older: the lute, the viola da gamba (or just 'viol' – it rhymes with trial), the recorder, the rebec (an early violin-like bowed instrument), the renaissance guitar (much smaller, and only 5 strings), and of course the bagpipes, which existed all over Europe in many guises, some loud and some very restrained. The long, loud symphony is replaced by smaller, quieter, more intimate forms: the pavan, the fantasia, the motet. And the distance between 'art music' and 'folk music' is much less.

 

At one time, say the 1970s-1980s, there was much pressure to perform early music on 'authentic' instruments and in 'authentic' style. Today the pressure is much less. Breve Encounters uses a mix of old and new: viols and renaissance guitar mix with modern flute and occasionally with even less traditional instruments, such as the 'wind-synthesiser' (like an electric clarinet or trombone) and the concertina.

 

But we try to use our modern instruments in keeping with the feel of early music.

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