From the very beginning, relying solely on their own means in purchasing the instruments
(in the first 11 years all the earnings from their concerts were used exclusively
to purchase the appropriate instruments), the ensemble is able today to perform the
major part of musical heritage of Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque on replicas
of preserved original period instruments. Replicas, made in well-known and best workshops
of European craftsmen, represent in best and truest manner the lavish instrumentation
of ancient times and the musical treasures of Europe in the period from 12th to 18th
century. “RENAISSANCE” uses full range of string instruments: several troubadour
vielles, rebecs, fiddles and violas da gamba (from soprano to bass). There are also
two original Baroque violins from 17th century. Pluck instruments include medieval,
Renaissance and Baroque lutes, a vihuela, psaltery, medieval harp and hurdy-gurdy.
Their collection of wind instruments is also extraordinarily rich and variegated.
A large number of recorders and traverso flutes, in all sizes (from the smallest
to the largest) and of all types (medieval, Renaissance and Baroque), the total number
of which exceedes forty instruments. Among medieval instruments special mention should
be made of gemshorn (cow horn) from soprano to bass, medieval shawms, trumpets and
Glastonberry pipe. Their collection of 16th century wind instruments is just as rich
and varied. The ensemble has complete families - consorts, such as: crumhorns (from
soprano to bass in C), cornemuse (from soprano to bass), rauschpfeifen (from soprano
to tenor), sackbut (alto, tenor, bass), cortholt, ranquette, dulcian, soprano and
alto shepherd's shawm, soprano and tenor cornetts, serpent, soprano and alto pommers.
With regard to keyboard instruments it is worth mentioning a spinet and a portative
organ. The instruments used to perform traditional music of Serbia, Balkans, Middle
and Far East include pipes, ocarinas, cavals, bagpipes, zurlas, lieritza, baglama,
tzouras, sargija, saz, Chinese gong, Chinese traverso flute, Chinese violin, Chinese
bells and Manchurian tambour. Percussion instruments inlcude tabor, tapan, bendir,
def, daire, bells…