A database of several hundred historical descriptions and references to London's sounds. They're drawn mainly from primary sources such as autobiographies, diaries and statutes, as well as novels written around the times they depict.
Period referred to: 1660s
Sound category: Religious > Church music and song
Title of work: The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Type of publication: Diary
Author: Samuel Pepys
Year of publication: 1662
Page/volume number: 14 September 1662
‘The musique more full than it was the last Sunday, and very fine it is’
Thence to White Hall chapel, where sermon almost done, and I heard Captain Cooke's new musique. This the first day of having vialls and other instruments to play a symphony between every verse of the anthem; but the musique more full than it was the last Sunday, and very fine it is. But yet I could discern Captain Cooke to overdo his part at singing, which I never did before.
[Lord Braybrooke's note in the 1893 edition: Charles II determined to form his own chapel on the model of that at Versailles. Twenty-four instrumentalists were engaged, and this was the first day upon which they were brought into requisition.]
Period referred to: 1660s
Sound category: Religious > Church song and music
Title of work: The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Type of publication: Diary
Author: Samuel Pepys
Year of publication: 1660
Page/volume number: August/September 1660
‘After sermon a brave anthem of Captain Cooke’s’
To my Lord, and with him to White Hall Chappell, where Mr. Calamy preached, and made a good sermon upon these words "To whom much is given, of him much is required." He was very officious with his three reverences to the King, as others do. After sermon a brave anthem of Captain Cooke's, [Henry Cooke, chorister of the Chapel Royal] which he himself sung, and the King was well pleased with it.
Period referred to: 1660s
Sound category: Religious > Church music and song
Title of work: The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Type of publication: Diary
Author: Samuel Pepys
Year of publication: 1660
Page/volume number: June/July 1660
‘This day the organs did begin to play’
This day the organs did begin to play at White Hall before the King.
[All organs were removed from churches by an ordinance dated 1644.]