SEATTLE RECORDER SOCIETY Recorder Notes March 2016 Vol. XLVII, No. 7 www.seattle-recorder.org From the Music Director (Vicki Boeckman) SRS Meeting Greetings, Everyone, Friday, March 4th, 2016 (Peter Seibert) Ah, the light doth return to the great @ 7:30 p.m Northwest! February and March are such hopeful months, are they not, with winter buds blossoming and the light enticing us with promise of longer days? Opening Program Sand Dalton Speaking of promises, I promised the large Historical Oboes group that we would revisit Peter's arrangement of Handel's “Music for the Royal Fireworks.” Such a grand piece deserves a lot more attention than we were able to give it at the Playing Session) January session. I would like to devote most of the evening to this 8-part (Vicki Boeckman) five-movement work. Here is a little bit of history. Thirty years after King Handel’s “Music for George's memorable barge trip on the river Thames in 1717, for which the Royal Fireworks” Handel's “Water Music” was written, Charles II was eager to celebrate the and Josquin Desprez’ end of the long, slow war. No expense was to be spared, and an over-the-top “Ave Maria . Virgo serena” grand extravaganza in London's Green Park complete with fireworks and theatrical backdrops was set in motion. Handel, being the composer of (All sizes of recorders, viols, choice for all royal celebrations, was called upon to write the music for and soft reeds welcome) this grand event. We know that the music was an incredible success with timpanis, natural trumpets, horns, winds, and strings, but unfortunately the fireworks display was doused by a downpour of rain. Luckily we will The Backroom Gang be indoors when we play on March 4th! (Laura Faber) Before plunging into the Handel, I would like to invite everyone to Music will be provided. play Josquin Desprez' gorgeous 4-part “Ave Maria … Virgo serena.” This is Continuing with tunes from the perhaps Josquin's most famous composition—certainly the work that is Shakespearean and Jacobean most often sung today. Written sometime between 1476 and 1497, during eras arranged for 3 and 4 the composer's service at one of several French and Northern Italian courts, recorders. We may also play it was first printed at the beginning of the first volume of motets ever a new arrangement of a Welsh printed—in 1501, by Petrucci: the Harmonice Musices Odhecaton. tune or two by Steve Marshall. SATB recorders welcome. For a sneak peek at the music, SATBGbCb recorders, viols, and soft reeds welcome. contact Laura Faber at [email protected]. Next Newsletter Deadline: Friday, March 18th About the Opening Program Sand Dalton: Historical Oboes (Vicki Boeckman) On March 4th, instrument maker Refreshments and performer Sand Dalton will bring over a half dozen historical oboes to (March) (Peter Seibert) demonstrate and describe to the Seattle Recorder Society. He has spent the last 40 years studying and making copies of a Cookies diverse group of instruments dating from Betsy Darrah the end of the 17th to the beginning of the Cedron Sterling 19th centuries, and he will be happy to answer any questions members might have about these unusual horns! Fruit Barbara McKnight Veggies Nancy Gorbman Thank you for volunteering! (Photo by Meg Partridge) Help Wanted! 2015/2016 SRS Meetings (Hanan Bell, SRS Board President) Meetings are usually (but not always) held on the Your Board of Directors is looking for volunteers to help in a first Friday of each month, number of areas including the newsletter, serving on the Board, helping September to May, with the library and the website, and possibly other areas you might at 7:30 p.m., Maple Leaf suggest. Lutheran Church, (Peter Seibert) 10005 - 32nd NE, Seattle. Can you help your Society? Please check in with any Board member Meetings include a short to let us know of your availability. performance or lecture of interest to recorder and viol Thank you! players, ensemble playing for all levels of recorder players, and a beginning recorder ensemble. A $5.00 donation is requested for non-members. September 11, 2015 First Notice for Members’ Night! October 9, 2015 November 6, 2015 Members’ Night in 2016 is Friday, May 6th. December 4, 2015 January 8, 2016 While that’s still some time off in the future, it’s never too early to February 5, 2016 March 4, 2016 (Peterstart thinking Seibert) about performance possibilities. More information will be April 8, 2016 provided as the date gets closer. May 6, 2016 An Interview with Sally Mitchell of the Backroom Gang (Vicki Boeckman) The Backroom Gang will be led by Laura Faber for the March meeting. To share a bit of history of the “gang” with all SRS members, Vicki Boeckman interview(Peter edSeibert) Sally Mitchell. Vicki Boeckman: What is the main purpose and intent of the Backroom Gang? Sally Mitchell: The purpose of this group is to provide an ensemble experience for players who are not yet ready to play in the large group. This has included beginners, returning players who are rusty, and players who are switching recorder sizes. I aim to provide a supportive and educational setting, preparing them to be “mainstreamed” back into the big group. Vicki: Please give us the back story on the Backroom Gang. How did it start and how long has it been going on? Sally: Actually, SRS has had a lower-level group going for decades, under various names. Peggy Monroe led it from 1985 to 2007 and named it Petite Consort (to contrast with the “Grand Consort” that Peter led). I took over in 2010. At first I had no “group” per se. Although there were some players for whom the Grand Consort was a challenge, no one wanted to break away and work separately. I would sit next to whoever was having difficulty and help them out by indicating entrances, pointing to our spot in the music when they got lost, and reminding them of fingerings. In that way I became the “Recorder Coach.” When Laura Faber began teaching recorder classes we suddenly had a group of beginners coming to SRS. This group was advancing steadily, and I tailored my music selections to their progress. The size of the group grew steadily as well; at one meeting we had 16 players! Laura’s students worked hard and kept improving. I eventually declared that this was no longer a “Beginners” group, and renamed it the Backroom Gang. By this past fall, Laura’s group of students had all graduated into the big group, and the Backroom Gang shrank drastically. I had only two people at each of the first three meetings of the year. In January, however, a robust group of four showed up. I’m hopeful that they’ll continue. Vicki: What types of pieces do you play? Sally: I use a wide variety: Bach chorales, Renaissance dances and vocal music, a little bit of medieval music, and some pieces composed for the group. Vicki: Is it hard to prepare when you're not sure who is going to show up, or do you enjoy the challenge of being able to improvise? Sally: Sure, it’s hard to prepare for an unknown group. I always have a variety of music with me that will (hopefully!) suit the group that comes. I choose music that will work with players of different abilities and that emphasizes different technical and musical challenges. I do enjoy the challenge of “making it work” —it almost always does! But, of course, the planning is easier if I have a consistent group (as I did for a few years). Vicki: You've been teaching a long time, so I'm sure you have many pearls of wisdom in your back pocket. Sally: My advice to beginning players: be patient with yourself, allow yourself to develop at your own pace, celebrate your progress, and practice! Two Celebrations for “Play-the-Recorder Month” — March, 2016 First Event: Saturday, March 12th — 10 a.m. – Noon What: “Play-the-Recorder Month Repertoire Past and Present” Explore the new piece “Steamed Bass and Fischmaul” by Matthias Maute & look at old favorites from years past. Where: 5730 NE 60th Street, Seattle RSVP: Everyone welcome, but RSVP is needed to be sure there are enough copies and space. Contact: Laura Faber at [email protected] or (206) 619-0671. Second Event: Saturday, March 19th — 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. You are invited to a celebration of the recorder! Come and enjoy a variety of ensembles. If you would like to participate, please see the information below. “Play-in”: All recorder players are welcome to play. Bring a stand to set up in front of the stage with a warm-up beginning at 12:50 p.m. We will play at 1:00 p.m. Anyone who can read music on the recorder is welcome to play (intermediate level and up). We will play “Steamed Bass and Fischmaul” by Matthias Maute, composed especially for the occasion of “Play-the-Recorder Day” which is March 19th, 2016! Copies of the “Play-in” music will be available at the event, or ARS (American Recorder Society) members can print a copy in advance at www.americanrecorder.org (see the Programs menu). ARS members can also find a copy of the music score in the centerfold of the Winter 2015 issue of American Recorder magazine. Main Program: Groups can sign up if there is still space. Please contact Nancy Gorbman at Music from Around the [email protected] or (206) 852-4762.