About
Why Renaissance Music Matters
Five hundred years ago, musicians created a world of sound for courts, churches, homes and city streets. At Piffaro, we believe this music matters because it speaks to something deeply human. Longing, celebration, devotion, grief, joy. The emotions are immediate, even when the language and instruments are unfamiliar. In a noisy world, the unamplified sound of Renaissance instruments invites a different kind of listening: close, present, and reflective.
Renaissance music is the foundation of the Western classical tradition. Renaissance composers shaped the musical language that later led to Bach, Handel, Mozart and beyond. These sounds are part of our cultural history. We preserve Renaissance paintings and architecture in museums. The music of the era deserves the same attention.
And there is the sound itself. Shawms, sackbuts, dulcians, recorders, bagpipes, lutes, and percussion create colors that are powerful, intimate, and beautifully unfamiliar. Hearing them live is a direct connection to the past.
The Ensemble
Piffaro is a six member ensemble that champions music from 1400 to 1600, approaching this era with an aim for historical accuracy, artistry, and care.
Led by Artistic Director Priscilla Herreid, the musicians perform on carefully crafted reproductions of period instruments and draw on decades of research into Renaissance performance practice. Our goal is not only to play the music, but to honor the context in which it lived: civic celebrations, courtly ceremonies, sacred spaces, everyday life.
You do not need to be an early music specialist to enjoy this music. Curiosity is enough.
Our Story
Founded in 1980 by Joan Kimball and Bob Wiemken, Piffaro has spent more than four decades bringing Renaissance music to life for modern audiences.
Today, we present an annual concert series in the Philadelphia region and share our work through touring across the United States and internationally. Our recordings include more than 18 albums, with several releases on the Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Produktion label.
Education and outreach have been central to our mission from the beginning. We teach, coach, and collaborate at festivals and institutions, helping new generations discover this repertoire and these instruments.
For over four decades, Piffaro the Renaissance Band has been a leader for the wind band’s tradition, and one of the best early music ensembles in the world.
What We Offer Today
Piffaro invites audiences to experience the intimacy and wonder of Renaissance sound through:
- Live concerts in Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE
- Touring performances
- Online streaming and digital programs
- Recordings and educational resources
- Educational and community programs like our Recorder Class and annual Recorder Fest
This is music that has survived for centuries, yet still feels immediate.
We invite you to listen.
Support Our Work
Piffaro is a nonprofit sustained by people who love what we do. Your support directly funds performances, education programs, and our growing collection of historic instruments.