Recordings Demonstrating Instruments

There are some recording collections which do a nice job of describing various instruments. This list definitely needs work, but as a start:

Instruments of the Middle Ages & Renaissance

David Munrow
Yamano Music 1031-1032 (2 CDs)

Dictionary of Medieval & Renaissance Instruments

Various Artists
Cantus 9705/6 (2 CDs)

Guide to the Instruments of the Renaissance

Ricercar Consort
Ricercar 95001 (3 CDs for the price of 2; 200 page booklet)

Compendium of Baroque Musical Instruments

Ricercar Consort
Ricercar 93001 (3 CDs for the price of 2; 150 page booklet)

The Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Musica Reservata of London - Michael Morrow
Vanguard 8093/4 (2CDs)

L'art des Instruments anciens

Various groups
Arion 36028 (3 LPs)

Dictionnaire des Instruments anciens

Clemencic Consort / Ars Musicae de Barcelone / Ensemble Ricercare / Atrium Musicae / Schola Cantorum de Londres
Harmonia Mundi 445 (3 LPs)

Also, an anthology that does a fine job showing many different developments & sonorities for a specific instrument:

Reflections - on a millennium of harps

Various performers
Academica 020505

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