Sidney Davey formed his players essentially for broadcasting. They were first heard on the air three months before war broke out. Led by Norbert Wethmar , they were an ensemble of nine: two violins, viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, and piano, the latter played by Davey. His idea in forming the combination was to present music of every type in contrast-a typical programme of his being, for instance, ' Song and Dance ', which presented every form of dance music interspersed by ballads.