The Seattle Recorder Society meets at 7:30 p.m. at
Recorder and viol players and other early musicians
(both new players and experienced) are welcomed.
The Port Townsend Early Music Workshop in July was an unqualified success! Special thanks to administrative director Jo Baim and music directors Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker as well as to the PT Workshop Committee, which worked diligently over a two year period to provide for a smooth transition in administration and venue.
Meeting dates for the coming year will not always be on “first Fridays”. Please note that the second meeting will be on October 30th in order to leave members free to attend the November 6th concert involving Marion Verbruggen, one of the world’s leading recorder players. The other two changes avoid New Year’s Day and Good Friday.
The October meeting will follow the traditional opening for the year with a grand consort session where everyone plays together. It will include recorder players on all levels as well as viols (at A=440). The work is based on six folk melodies collected in England before radio and gramophone recordings influenced folk music and more or less standardized it. I have created a work for large ensemble with everything from sopranino to contrabass recorders needed. Extra parts for beginning recorder players will be provided, and a set of viol parts will also be available. The style of composition that I have chosen for the work resembles that of Gustav Holst in his compositions for orchestra and wind band involving English folk material. In other words, the style is approachable both for players and for listeners. And remember: please bring two or more sizes of recorder, if possible. We never know in advance what the balance among sections will be, and some flexibility in assigning parts is desirable.
I’m pleased to announce that Sally Mitchell will lead the Beginning Ensemble starting with the October 30th meeting. Sally is a long-time member of the SRS and has had a successful career as a recorder teacher for more than two decades. Her other work is as director of membership for Early Music America, which has its national office in Seattle.
Dues, etc.: Our dues continue at the low level of $25 per year in order to keep membership within the reach of as many people as possible. SRS dues alone do not pay our annual expenses. We build into our budget an amount for “Annual Giving” to help us balance for the year. Over the years, SRS members have a history of generosity that has kept us financially balanced on a year-to-year basis. Those who can afford to help are encouraged to make an additional financial gift to the SRS. Our fundraising is low-key to the point where our only acknowledgement of your gift is a January letter to you from our treasurer for tax purposes. Unlike most non-profits, we do not make a public listing of our donors.
You may download and print the form to mail or bring to the next meeting:
Starting with our second meeting, our current plan for viol players is to have them work as a self-directed ensemble. Space will be provided, as usual, and at some meetings there will be the option of joining with recorder players.
A personal note: This will be my 40th year as music director of the Seattle Recorder Society.
Peter Seibert, conducting
Seibert, "Fantasia on English Folksongs"
Recorders and Viols
Pitch: A = 440
