Faculty Page
Mark Davenport:  "Dances and Aires: English Music from the Courts of Queen Elizabeth to Charles I." (upper  intermediate to advanced): This class will look at secular dances by some of the leading composers working in the English courts between 1550 and 1650 (William Byrd, John Dowland, Giovanni Coprario and William Lawes). Drawing on Davenport's doctoral work the  group will play through some of Lawes's most astonishing and inventive compositions with  newly transcribed arrangements for recorders.
Miyo Aoki: "Curmudgeons of the English Renaissance"  For Intermediate recorder players who are comfortable with occasional lightly challenging rhythms (for example a few ties, syncopations, and occasional fast notes).
Some very moving music of the English Renaissance was written by some very grumpy or badly behaved composers. We'll catch a glimpse of their more sensitive sides through beautiful pieces by John Dowland, Christopher Tye, Thomas Weelkes, and other curmudgeons.
2023 A Classes
2023 A Classes
Charles Fischer: Haydn & Mozart music for quartet and quintet
James Chaudoir: "Crossing Rivers"
SATB(G), Intermediate level. Limited use of accidentals
Crossing Rivers offers a diverse selection of pieces reflecting rolling rivers and the role they played inspiring many musical settings. Most if not all the pieces chosen will be somewhat familiar to you, ranging from spirituals and folk songs to a very famous movie theme. Titles include Deep River, The Water is Wide, and Shenandoah (Across the Wide Missouri), among others. This collection of music not only sounds really good on recorders, but is fun to play as well.
Do you have a great bass? Don't get to play it much? Bring it along to enhance and augment the bass lines.

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David Echelard: "Burgundian France and the Netherlands"
"The Franco-Flemish Motet" for Recorders and Voices
Musically survey the composers of the Franco-Flemish generations and their locations (looking at maps) that created the Franco-Flemish motet.
Sonically explore compositions of Josquin, Lassus, WIllaert, Brumel, Weerbeke, Mouton, Arcadelt, Binchois and Dufay.
Rethink performance practice in the relationship between the text and music. Expand awareness vocally and instrumentally, of individual intertwining of vocal lines, imitation,and the balanced and expressive voice writing in the harmonic structures and polyphonic textures.
Explore these exquisitely constructed works as you reinvigorate and hone your vocal technique or play and think instrumentally like a singer sings.
All voices are welcome.  All Instrumentation is welcome. Great opportunities to practice reading alto fingerings up.
Lots of tenor recorder cantus Firmus action awaiting.
Come play any instrument, sing, or feel free to go back and forth from singing to playing instruments. 

Music is provided.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcUNXyYi2Gl8DYDfWgoD8CpDaZXcs7m7h&si=srjwGH-MrUmb-9YF
Shelley Gruskin: Late baroque concertos for multiple recorders and bass. (Advanced)  Expect to play lots and lots and lots of notes. Practice up on your scales and arpeggios for maximum razzle-dazzle in the allegros against the pathos of the adagios.
Clea Galhano: "Spices From a Far Land"
This class will feature repertory from Sephardic music, Portuguese and Spanish Renaissance .
Sephardic music has its roots in the musical traditions of the Jewish communities in medieval Spain and medieval Portugal. Since then, it has picked up influences from Morocco, Greece, Bulgaria, and the other places that Spanish and Portuguese Jews settled.

Laura Kuhlman: "Songs of Solomon, Music of Salamone Rossi"  We are lucky enough that Salamone Rossi lived in the progressive town of Mantua, Italy during the reign of the Gonzaga family. A talented violinist, Rossi worked alongside such illuminaries as Montiverdi, Gastoldi and Wert at the ducal court. Rossi was so highly regarded for his music talents that he was excused from wearing the badge that all Jews of Mantua were required to wear.  Although his vast library consists of music written for the Catholic Church, he is also known for his remarkable psalm settings intended for Hebrew services. Recorders, voices, strings are welcome to join in as we discover the beauty and elegeance of Salamone Rossi.

Lisette Kielson: "Early One Morning with Merry Glee" Intermediate
In this (mostly) playing session, we will explore 2-part folk music from the British Isles and 3-part English-texted Italian madrigals. Within the context of these tunes, we will address some technique as well, such as tone, articulation, and the instruments' full range. Geared for intermediate treble clef players, but for those who'd like a challenge(!), the top line of the folk duos can be read on soprano recorder down an octave.
Class music:
Greensleeves: Irische, schottische und englische Folklore (AT), Noetzel Edition (N 4535)
English Madrigals, Vol.1 11 Madrigals (AAT), Dolce (DOL 131)
Mona Mann:  "Advanced Beginner Consort"
In the Advanced Beginner group, participants will focus on music basics such as rhythms, time signatures, key signatures, and fingerings for C and F recorders through duet and trio playing.  We will work to improve both music reading and recorder playing skills at a manageable pace.  We will also discuss techniques and strategies for practicing effectively.  This class is ideal for participants wanting to make music, but needing to move more deliberately in order to be successful.  Participants may register for one or both sessions (A and B)
Patrick O'Malley:  "Take a Chanson Me"  (Intermediate)
Claudin de Sermisy was one of the most important composers of Renaissance chansons lovely song with French texts. On recorders, these work well with alto (reading up an octave), two tenors, and bass. The parts are accessible, allowing us to focus on creating lyrical phrases. We will use London Pro Musica LPM PC4, Claudin de Sermisy, 15 Chansons. 
John Mark Rozendaal:  "Playing from Original Notation"
Tenor and bass recorders are welcome in this session.
Favorite chansons and dances are a great way to get started or to work up skills in playing from original notation. Working from the same unbarred parts that musicians of the 16th century gives access and insight into the process of music making in the Renaissance.  Tune to A440.
Charles Rasmussen "German Dances and Galliards" (Intermediate)
This course focuses on dance music from the collection Musicalischer Tugendtspiegel, published in Nürnberg in 1613, by Erasmus Widmann. At this time, string instruments were rising in popularity in Germany, though wind
instruments were also commonly used in consort music.
The instrumental portion of the collection features two sections: German dances
and galliards. The German dances are common time dances that may have been
danced to, while the galliards are more rhythmically complex.
Although Mr. Rasmussen's session focuses on the viol, this session is suitable for viols and recorders.  Recorders need to be tenor, bass or below. 

The dances are scored in four parts. The edition uses the following clefs: treble,
treble an octave lower, and bass clef.


Katherine Shuldiner:  "Love's Lament"  What's love without a little sorrow? In this class we'll explore the themes of love and some of the inevitable feelings that accompany it. We will lament with Morley, have lots of regrets with the likes of Josquin, and shed a few tears with Dowland; all in the name of love!
Gail Schroeder:  "The Music of John Ward" Viols; Upper Intermediate & Advanced
Explore the rich viol consort legacy of John Ward, whose music survives in numerous 17th-century music sources, suggesting that his compositions were as widely appreciated during his lifetime as they are today.

Katherine Shuldiner  "Beginner Viol "
 This is the perfect opportunity to try the Viola da gamba. This class is for absolute beginners who are interested in exploring a new instrument.  Tune to A=440.
Anne Timberlake:  "King Hal: Henry VIII had six wives- and 49 recorders!"(Lower  Intermediate)  If that isn't a  sign of which category he valued more, it's at least a testament to his love for, and support of, music.  We'll explore musical gems from Henry's era, including a few penned by the monarch himself.
Pam Wiese:  "Beginning Ensemble"  (Beginner Recorder)
Depending on student level, we will work through some of the duets in the Recorder Guide or I will provide you with some simple SA and SAT ensemble pieces.  We will work on facility of reading, confidence in playing and listening to the other parts.

Friday Night Classes
2023 A Classes