no
the lute, the flute, the bagpipes, harp, trumpets, drums, violins, recorders...
It was first invented in the 16th century.
String instruments
The question should be : What instrument is closest to the conductor in an orchestra? I assume the question refers to a symphonic (philharmonic) orchestra. The answer is that two instruments are closer to the conductor: the first violin (principal of the first violins) on the left, and most of the time, the first cello on the right. I say most of the time, because orchestras are usually put in a layout with the first violins on the left and the cellos on the right. However some orchestras use the distribution of first violins on the left and second violins on the right. In this case the closes instruments would be the first violin (1st violins principal) and the principal of the second violins.
Violins! I am a keen violinist, and violins are the main instruments played in an orchestra closely followed by cellos and violas.
No, violins had not yet been invented in Shakespeare's day. He may have played other musical instruments: we don't know.
This is a composition for string consort. The instruments involved are violins, violas, cellos and basses. The principal melody in the first movement is played by the first violins for the accompaniment of others.
Almost all the time, the first violins are seated on the left of the conductor and on the right are cellos or second violins depending on the size of the orchestra.
violins and cellos
Most musical instrument stores will have Violins and many other instruments for both band and orchestra. Look in your local yellow pages for "Musical Instruments" .
Two violins, a viola, and a cello.
The first violins look basically the same as violins do today, before that, they weren't violins.