instruments

• this piece uses a soprano singer, harpsichord and bass viol
• the harpsichord and bass viol act as the bass continuo, providing accompaniment for the singer
• the left hand of the harpsichord and the bass viol play the ground bass - a repeating bass pattern that acts as an accompaniment
• the right hand of the harpsichord plays a 'realisation' (which would have been improvised at the time), which fills out the chords of the piece