How did instrumental music for home use develop during the 1400s?

Instrumental music designed for home use began to emerge around the middle of the 15th century. During this period, it became customary in Germany to take folk-song melodies and expand or elaborate upon them by adding two or three countermelodies, which were then arranged for small groups of instruments.1

While these arrangements rarely specified the exact instruments to be used, historical evidence—particularly from paintings of the time—suggests that groups of viols of various sizes were the most common choice for these domestic ensembles. This practice laid an early foundation for what would eventually evolve into the broader tradition of chamber music.1

This development occurred alongside a broader shift in the 15th century where secular and instrumental music began to flourish as princes and the civil aristocracy became increasingly important patrons of the arts.2