Final answer:
The statement that instrumental music was only used as accompaniment for voices during the Renaissance period is false. Instrumental music experienced development and variety, with improvised dance music being a major genre. Instruments were featured in various settings and their use was more than mere accompaniment, showing significance in the musical culture of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the role of instrumental music during the Renaissance period, the statement that its sole purpose was to serve as accompaniment for vocal music is false. Although vocal music, including polyphony and the madrigal, was prominent during this time, instrumental music also developed significantly. There was an increasing demand for music due to improved distribution, such as from the Gutenberg press, which not only led to a broader dissemination of vocal styles but also allowed for the growth of instrumental music. The largest genre of purely instrumental music during this time was improvised dance music. Moreover, with the advent of the Renaissance, there was a push for music that appealed to the burgeoning bourgeois class, leading to more diverse musical forms being created and enjoyed.
Instrumental music during the Renaissance was not just background accompaniment; it was an important and evolving part of the musical tapestry of the era. Instruments were used in various contexts, such as court performances and theatrical productions, and musicians frequently improvised, demonstrating the valued skill and creativity among instrumentalists of the time.
By the end of the Renaissance, shifts in musical practice, including the breakdown of modal characteristics and the rise of tonality, influenced both vocal and instrumental compositions. This shift also marked the beginning of a more modern approach to harmony and musical structure, which would continue to evolve in the following Baroque period.