Recorder - Royal College of Music

01/03/2020

Kicking off our International Recorder Festival with workshops by the RCM professors: right now, Ashley Solomon coaches Matyas Houf on Bach’s gorgeous Sonata BWV 1034.

Join us later today for the lunchtime concert (13:30) and masterclass (15:00) with Pierre Hamon Musicien!

https://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/festival-details/?id=RCM%20Recorder%20Festival

28/02/2020

We look forward to welcoming you at RCM on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 March for our International Recorder Festival!

Our schedule:

SUNDAY 1 March

11.00-13.00 Workshops by the RCM recorder professors
María Martínez Ayerza: Lecture "Renaissance recorders and their makers, then and now"
Performance class with Ashley Solomon
Circular breathing workshop with Julien Feltrin

13.30-14.15 Solo concert by Pierre Hamon Musicien
"The Breath of Old and New Worlds"
A musical journey through breath in ancient civilisations

15.00-18.00 Recorder Masterclass with Pierre Hamon Musicien
____

MONDAY 2 March

10.00-13.00 Recorder Masterclass with Pierre Hamon Musicien

14.00-16.30 Workshop with Inês d'Avena
Music from the Neapolitan archives

16.30-17.00 Maker's presentation with Li Virghi Recorders

18.00 Final concert with Inês d'Avena & Claudio Ribeiro
____

More information and tickets (free but required):
http://bit.ly/RCMfestival2020

20/02/2020

*** On this day... (Recorder edition) ***

20 February 1929
Birth of Friedrich Von Huene

Maker of historical woodwinds, developer of new recorder models, founder of Von Huene Workshop and the Early Music Shop of New England, "scholar, toolmaker, engineer, and businessman" who said in 1976: “I consider myself sort of a cross between a musician, an artist, and an artisan.”

Here is a 20-minute documentary and interview extracted from Daniël Brüggen's documentary "Master makers".

Further reading:

Obituary in The Boston Globe (source of the quote above)
http://bit.ly/VonHuene

A delightful book: "Well-Tempered Woodwinds: Friedrich von Huene and the Making of Early Music in a New World" by Geoffrey Burgess. Indiana University Press, 2015.
http://bit.ly/BurgessWTW

An excerpt from Daniël Brüggen's film about pioneer recorder makers: the late Friedrich von Huene (interviewed here), Hermann Moeck, Martin Skowroneck, Bob M...

16/02/2020

** Today (16 February) at 14:00: RCM Recorders on BBC Radio 3 **

This afternoon at 14:00 GMT Lucie Skeaping visits Windsor Castle, where the current Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Desmond Shawe-Taylor guides her through some of the rooms, art and music associated with the reign of King Charles II and Queen Catherine.

Thirteen young musicians from London's Royal College of Music will perform for you, among them the RCM Recorder Consort (Colette Spaul, Hannah Parry, Kate Bingham and Matyas Houf).

The performers were brought together by the RCM's Chair of Historical Performance and Recorder Professor Ashley Solomon.

Click on the link for more information and to listen back once the show has aired.

An exploration of early developments in the musical world

15/02/2020

One week left for external Conservatoire students and recent graduates to apply for a masterclass with Pierre Hamon Musicien during the RCM Recorder Festival on the 1st and 2nd of March.

Please check the instructions below if you are interested. We look forward to welcoming you!

09/02/2020

** 16 February 2020: RCM Recorders on BBC Radio 3 **

Next Sunday the 16th of February at 14:00 (British time) Lucie Skeaping visits Windsor Castle, where the current Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures Desmond Shawe-Taylor guides her through some of the rooms, art and music associated with the reign of King Charles II and Queen Catherine.

Music by Matthew Locke, John Blow, John Jenkins, Henry Lawes, Richard Mico and Henry Purcell is performed by thirteen young musicians from London's Royal College of Music, including a recorder quartet formed by Colette Spaul, Hannah Parry, Kate Bingham and Matyas Houf.

The performers were brought together by the RCM's Chair of Historical Performance and Recorder Professor Ashley Solomon.

Click on the link for more information and to listen back once the show has aired.

Lucie Skeaping takes a tour of Windsor Castle, hearing music associated with Charles II.

31/01/2020

** Opportunity: masterclass with Pierre Hamon **

Are you a Conservatoire student or a young professional and would you like to have a masterclass with Pierre Hamon Musicien during the RCM International Recorder Festival (1–2 March 2020)?

We have a limited number of spaces for external applicants to perform in this masterclass. If you would like to apply, please submit a short CV or biography along with your selected repertoire to [email protected].

There is no cost associated with performing in this masterclass; however, please note that we are unable to cover the cost of travel, expenses or accommodation. The deadline for applications is Friday 21 February and late applications will not be considered.

We look forward to welcoming you at RCM!

12/12/2019

** 1–2 March 2020: RCM International Recorder Festival **

Tickets for the RCM International Recorder Festival 2020 are already available!

Join us for two days of concerts, talks and workshops highlighting the breadth of repertoire for the recorder.

With...
Inês d'Avena & Claudio Ribeiro
Pierre Hamon Musicien
Francesco Li Virghi
Julien Feltrin
María Martínez Ayerza
Ashley Solomon

Looking forward!

We highlight the breadth of repertoire for the recorder in this spring festival.

01/11/2019

Among the many wonderful events planned next week at the London International Festival of Early Music, do not miss the Performers Platform with Students from Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, including recorder player Matyas Houf!

Friday 8 November, 13:45 - 14:25
St Michael & All Angels, Blackheath
Admission free with Exhibition ticket

Couperin
Les Concerts Royaux: No. 1 in G Major

Sammartini
Sonata in G major for recorder and basso continuo, Op. 2, No. 4

Fasch
Sonata à 4 FaWV N:D1

Thursday 7th November Exhibition:10:30 - 17:30Instrument makers, music publishers, shops, organisations and education.Blackheath HallsAdmissionAdults £10.00, 2 day ticket - £15.00, 3 day ticket - £20.00; Concessions: £8, £12, £16, Children under 14 and Full Time Students FreeAdvance 3 Day Tick...

30/10/2019

*** On this day... (Recorder edition) ***

30 October 1934
Birth of Frans Brüggen

Frans Brüggen would have turned 85 today. His legacy as a performer and conductor is immense. We have chosen to share a performance of Luciano Berio's "Gesti" (1966), a composition that Brüggen commissioned and premiered.

Recorder players spend years working on the perfect coordination of fingers, articulation and breath. In the first two sections of "Gesti", however, these elements are autonomous. This original approach made the recorder sound as never before!

The landmark piece for recorder dedicated to Brüggen by Berio. (deviations from the published score..?!)

20/10/2019

*** On this day... (Recorder edition) ***

"The fool on the hill"
20 October 1967

Exactly 52 years ago, Paul McCartney played the recorder solos for "The fool on the hill" at the EMI Studios in London.