German accounts of the usage of the violin in the sixteenth century are scanty, but there is one extremely elaborate printed account of the music and festivities at a ducal wedding in 1568, which gives us a detailed picture of the contemporary use of instruments in Germany, including the violin. On 22 February 1568, Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria, married Renée of Lorraine, and the festivities, which had started the day before, lasted until 9 March. Orlando Lasso was charged with the musical direction of the whole affair; and we can do better than guess what the instruments (including the stringed instruments) and players looked like. The music for the whole festivity was furnished by the Munich Court Chapel under Lasso, and Hans Mielich, the court painter and Lasso’s son-in-law, painted the players and singers (most of whom were probably Italian) about this time performing under Lasso.
The nuptual banquet was an exceedingly elaborate affair with a number of courses, each of which was accompanied by different music. Included were several pieces that employed the violins alone or in combination. In particular, a six-part motet of Cipriano de Rore was performed by six viole da brazzo (members of the violin family); and a twelve-part piece of Annibale Padvano, by six viole da brazzo, five trombones, a cornetto, and a regale dolce. Note that the piece for violins alone was a piece of sacred vocal music simply performed by instruments.
Excerpted from The History of Violin Playing from its Origins to 1761 and its Relationship to the Violin and Violin Music by David D. Boyden. Published by Oxford University Press, New York, 1990.