Back to the Days of Good Queen Bess! Sixteenth Century music played on old English Instruments by the Chaplin Trio. The story of 'The Armada' from 'Westward Ho!' (Charles Kingsley) told by Alan Howland. 'A Child's Day in the Sixteenth Century,' by Marjorie Quennell. The Chaplin Trio, who specialize in Old English Music, will play today on the Harpsichord, the Viola d'Amore and the Viola da Gamba. The Harpsichord was the keyboard instrument used before the Piano was invented. It has stops and pedals, and the sounds are made by quills which pluck the strings when the keys are played upon. The qualities of sound are therefore quite different from those of the Piano, which are produced by hammers striking the strings.
The Viola d'Amore has seven strings, tuned to the key of D. In addition, there are seven metal strings under the finger-board. These give a peculiarly sympathetic quality of tone to the instrument.
The Viola da Gamba has six strings - three being made of gut and three being wire covered.
The Chaplin Trio will play music of the Sixteenth century by Dr. John Bull, William Byrd and Robert Johnson, and some old dances of the period, the composers of which are unknown.