Macbeth

What sort of instruments are used at the Globe?

Most of the instruments that were used in Shakepeare’s time are simply younger versions of the modern instruments that we use now. One much-used example the shawm, a medieval woodwind instrument and precursor of the modern oboe. Another example is the sackbut, a brass instrument used in medieval ceremonies and dances, which has now developed into the trombone. The band would have been made up of percussive instruments (field drums, tabors) to keep the rhythm rooted and melody instruments (recorder, viola da gamba, etc) to play more elaborate lines.

Today, some productions stick to historically accurate instruments but most use modern and ethnic instruments to reflect the play’s atmosphere. Many of the older instruments are made by specialists and on some occasionthe situations we hire specialized instruments from other theatres or organisations. Many of the musicians studied early music at school or university and continued to take lessons on them in specialist colleges and music conservatoires.