The Orchestra of the "Orfeo" That there was some sort of an orchestra in the "Orfeo" is probable, though it is not wholly certain.

The letter of the Envoy Pauluzo on the performance of Ariosto's "Suppositi" at the Vatican in March, 1518, has already been quoted.

From this we learn that there was an orchestra containing fifes, bag-pipes, two cornets, some viols and lutes and a small organ.

It is a pity that Pauluzzo did not record the number of stringed instruments in order that we might have some idea of the balance of this orchestra.

On the other hand, as there was no system of orchestration at that time, we might not learn much from the enumeration.