The lyra viol is a small bass viol, popular in 17th-century England. Its importance rests not so much on its particular qualities - it differed little from the standard bass viol - but on the large and musically valuable repertoire it inspired. Frank Traficante talks about it and introduces some of the music specially written for it. The illustrations are played by FRANCIS BAINES (treble viol), JUNE BAINES (baSS Viol), JANE RYAN , IAN GAMMIE , FRANK TRAFICANTE (lyra viols), RICHARD NICHOLSON (harpsichord). followed by an interlude