On the vibrant thoroughfare of the Strand, home to most of London's famous music shops and print houses, John Walsh first produced Handel’s trio sonatas and Corelli's ever-popular Op. 5 violin sonatas. Only streets away, Scottish musicians like James Oswald set up their own shops along the Strand, feeding the craze for Scottish music in the capital. In the theatres, Handel directed the first performances of his operas and oratorios, working with mezzo-soprano Elisabetta de Gambarini and star oboist Giuseppe Sammartini.

Just along the road at the Temple Church, John Playford sold his best-selling books of dance tunes, and we meet Henry Purcell and his teacher John Blow competing in an organ battle!