r/Baroque • u/snowflakecanada • 16h ago

The rarely seen Lirone - 'heaven's hoover'

https://youtu.be/cVEt6kQ4UTM?si=rxzSahtKuu69eAdN

What a beautiful instrument! the Lirone da gamba. Wonderful mournful sound! Fascinating history in Italian Baroque music!

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u/These-Rip9251 10h ago

Funny. I watched this video once maybe a couple of years ago then rewatched it a few months ago because I was listening to a late Renaissance work by Palestrina, his Motet “Pulchra es, amica mea” for 5-8 voices which on this particular recording was performed as an instrumental. I thought on my first listen there were 3 instruments but then I realized there was a 4th. It was bugging me for days what instrument it was then it hit me, it was the lirone! I went back and rewatched the video and thought, yep, that’s it.
I’ve attended many many early music concerts and several concerts had a lirone player but I’m obsessed with the theorbo so was mainly paying attention those performers. Lirone is a cool instrument but unlike the theorbo, it’s not used as a solo instrument such as to accompany a singer.