Which instruments were common in Renaissance wind and brass consorts?

During the Renaissance, wind and brass instruments were frequently organized into consorts—ensembles consisting of different sizes of the same instrument family to ensure a smooth, homogeneous blend of tone.12

Common instruments in these consorts included:

• Woodwinds: Recorders and flutes were popular, often built in multiple sizes. Double-reed instruments were also prevalent, such as the crumhorn, the shawm—often used for outdoor music—and the curtal, which served as a vital bass instrument.1
• Brass and Hybrid Instruments: The cornetto (or cornett) was a key treble instrument, while the trombone (often referred to as the sackbut) was frequently used in both loud consorts with shawms and in mixed ensembles with cornetts.134

While unmixed consorts were highly valued for their uniform sound, mixed consorts—combining various types of instruments based on availability—were also common. These groups performed a wide range of polyphonic music, including dance pieces and arrangements of vocal works.23