The Recorder Group

Leader:  Joan Gibson - recorder@ashbyu3a.co.uk -

The recorder group, meet twice a month, to make music in a relaxed, fun way. I would hope that we would be able to cater for a wide range of experience and skill. We usually meet each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 10am, but occasionally it varies. Check here for up to date information.

December

On 4th December we moved into the Christmas season, as far as music is concerned. We played several in three parts from a book of collected carols. We continued with another three-part piece: “The Three Kings” by Marg Hall, a well-known (living) recorder composer, player and teacher. We then added a bass part, and played a medley of well-known carols, followed by a selection of more varied carols, some of which are more modern. One which was new to us was “Bethlehem Down” by Peter Warlock. This carol won the Times competition for a new carol in 1927; a journalist friend wrote the words. We also had a go at Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, and finished with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

On 22nd December nearly all members were present (15): only one was unable to join us. We had a good session, playing just Christmas music. Some carols were well-known popular tunes, whereas some others were of foreign origin: French, Caribbean, Czech, German and Polish. We finished with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. We all seemed to have a good time, and we wished one another a very Happy New Year, and agreed to meet again on 8th January (followed by 22nd January). I’m not proposing to put any Christmas music on the playlists for January!

Thanks to all members for their support during the years.