Our recorder group, ably led by Annette Salt, began almost four years ago. A friend who saw the notice in the U3A bulletin remembered my great love for the recorder and contacted me. We were four or five people at the beginning, enough to find three different voices among us: descant, treble and tenor. Some of us have taken up the recorder after a lapse of many years, for some it is a more recent pastime and for me it is a dream come true after forty years of solitary playing. The addition of a bass instrument meant our repertoire became more interesting and challenging.
Today our group has grown to ten members and each player has added a new dimension to the sound we make. We meet every other Wednesday morning in different homes and we know in advance what music to prepare. We always have some sight reading and the host for the day chooses a favourite or two from the past to end the session. Bach and other baroque and classical composers as well as folk songs, make up our ever growing repertoire.
We are fortunate to have a leader who encourages us – pushes us – so we do not become complacent and we are encouraged to contribute our ideas and opinions. What a wonderful exercise it is for our 60+ brains to change from C recorder to F, to play an octave up or down! The pleasure of playing with others and the belief that the humble recorder is beckoning us to make beautiful music has motivated us all to join the group. The strong social bonds within the group not only enhance the texture of our playing but also enrich our lives.
A two dollar contribution by each player per meeting is creating a little fund which we could use for the occasional lunch but we decided to let it grow so we can invite a tutor once or twice a year to help us improve our technique and interpretation.
Yesterday was my turn to put the kettle on for morning tea. As I was listening to the group playing Praetorius in the next room, my heart was skipping with joy to hear the beautiful sound of recorders and for the opportunity to make music.
Information provided by Margeret Tockuss
