Sound Innovation in the Renaissance: An Analysis of Leonardo da Vinci's Contribution to Musical Instruments

• Grant number: 24/16354-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Monica Isabel Lucas
• Grantee: Natália Dantas de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aims to provide the first systematic examination in Portuguese of the musical instruments invented by Leonardo da Vinci. The research will draw on both Winternitz's seminal works (1964, 1972, 1982), which are the most recent publications specifically addressing this topic, and on subsequent information found in various publications. The first chapter will investigate the sociocultural context of the Renaissance to better understand the intellectual milieu in which Leonardo operated. The second chapter will offer a review of recent literature concerning the role of music within the Renaissance context, highlighting Leonardo's contributions to this field. The third chapter will undertake a comparative analysis of the musical instruments that existed during Leonardo's time versus those he created, using his manuscripts as primary sources. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the technical and sonic innovations introduced by Leonardo in the domain of music. Technical innovations will be explored through the lens of contemporary lutherie techniques, while sonic innovations will be assessed both through concrete methods, based on the reconstructive proposals of instruments that have been realised, and hypothetical approaches, comparing Leonardo's invented instruments-yet to be recreated-with existing instruments that may have influenced his innovations.