This work investigates the evolution, construction, and functional application of musical instruments throughout the Medieval and Renaissance periods. David Munrow, a noted expert in early music performance, utilizes his extensive experience as a multi-instrumentalist to categorize and explain the technical nuances of historical sound production. The text provides a systematic framework for understanding how these instruments functioned within their original social and liturgical contexts.

Experts and musicologists frequently cite this text as a foundational reference for the study of early music performance practice. Readers often note the clarity of the technical descriptions, which bridge the gap between academic musicology and practical musicianship.