In which historical period did the specification of instrumentation begin?

The specification of instrumentation began to take a more defined shape during the Renaissance period. This era saw the transition from purely vocal music to the inclusion of specific instruments in composition. While earlier periods primarily utilized instruments to accompany vocals without detailed written parts, composers during the Renaissance started to indicate specific instruments for their music, allowing for a clearer performance practice.

This shift can be observed through the development of consort music, where particular groups of instruments played together, and the rise of instrumental music as a distinct form of expression. Increased interest in music theory and notation also contributed to the clarity in instrumentation, which laid the groundwork for more complex and specified orchestration later in the Baroque period and beyond.

In contrast, while the Medieval period primarily focused on monophonic chants and later homophonic textures without much emphasis on instrument specification, and the Classical period developed more sophisticated forms and larger orchestras, the Renaissance is the true turning point where instrumentation began to be clearly specified in notated music.