This first Saltero just gets me going and makes me think of great battles of old. He is blowing the hell out of that little thing and getting a huge sound. I really love David Munrow, ever since I heard Zardoz as a kid.
I'd like to share a story. In 1972 I was in 2nd year of secondary school and my friend came to school and told me the previous evening he'd attended a concert given by DM and the Early Music Consort at Partick Burgh Halls (in Glasgow). The concert to mark the UK's accession to the EEC had attracted a tiny audience of around 20 people. The following year the same friend and I attended a Summer Prom concert at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow (only about 2 miles away from the other venue) given by the EMC who were guests of the SNO. The Hall was packed solid with 100s of appreciative concert goers with no empty seats anywhere. At the interval my friend and I managed to have a word with David who was standing with some of the other musicians ( I remember Michael Laird was one of them) surrounded by fans and well wishers. At one point David spotted my friend and turned to his wife . Pointing at my friend he said "this was one of the 20 people who came to see us last year". He then turned to my friend and said "you've brought a few of your friends with you tonight haven't you". I remember he signed our programmes.
Saw him and The Early Music Consort of London in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on the 24/06/1974 as part of the Proms (still got the ticket stub) when they performed the Praetorius programme. Understood they were also at the Kelvin Hall the year previous doing the Susato programme. Didn't know about the Partick Burgh Hall recital - interesting to hear about that.
True ambassador of music. I've been listening to recordings of David Munrow and his friends for more than half of my life. Today, for the first time, got to see his face and hear his voice, then noticed that he passed away before I was born. _"How sad, how lovely, how brief."_
What a devastating loss to the world of early and Renaissance music. Were it not for David Munrow, music fans would not have as much of an understanding and appreciation for early music. And he could play so many instruments - enormous talent.
In around 1989 or 1990 at found an only LP by David Munrow in my local library. He introduced each track explaining the instruments and how they worked. I borrowed it and took the liberty of recording g it on cassette (piracy I know, but since it was no longer commercially available at that time it was the only way I could get a copy. I listened to that over and over again through the years. I was only in my teens. Not the sort of music that my peers were listening to, but I loved it! And now I e found this on RU-vid and reading the comments about his passing so long ago is so sad. I had no idea. This man was a great and enthusiastic musician, a preserver of musical tradition and a great educator.
I have his album 'Instruments of The Middle Ages & Renaissance' and I refer back to it again and again (I'm a psaltery player) - it's absolutely fascinating and brilliant collection. He was clearly an inspired, passionate man. So sad when I discovered the nature of his passing. His legacy lives on....
Watching this for the 1st time since it was originally broadcast I feel strangely emotional. I realise now that as a 14 and 15 year old I took his huge talent for granted …. and what a communicator he was. Gone too soon. His shoes have never been filled. I remember seeing the headlines in the Observer when I was on holiday " Pied Piper Dead" and being stunned. Having made his terrible decision he was not likely to fail. If only he had been treated. RIP.
@@forveillelier Pied Piper was the childrens music program he presented on BBC Radio 3. The theme music was the short melody he plays here on the "little, little flute".
Thanks to David Munrow I have had a lifetime love of early music. I first heard his ensemble on a record I had borrowed from the public library in the 1960s. There was something about the music and the sounds that resonated (pun not intended) in me. I was fortunate to have played (cornetto) in an early music consort at university. David, your star burned brightly for all to short a time, but not before igniting a flame in those of us who were entertained and inspired by you. What greater legacy can anyone hope to have?
This series of David Munrow and Friends is surely a gift. May the records of his life's work be kept for posterity. Like a brilliant comet he blazed and all too soon was gone.
James bowman said on the radio that he received letters from munrow presumably pertaining to this question...but he said that he was not prepared to say any more than that...so we are still in the dark ...But I believe he had tried suicide previously....so if you are correct and he was depressed...why was he not getting help and being treated?
@@posnerist Because unfortunately that's what men tend to do. Either they do not seek help at all or they disguise the extent of their dark illness. Like Andreas Lubitz the young German airline pilot who deliberately crashed his German Wings flight killing everyone on board or the Welsh footballer Gary Speed who took his own life whilst appearing outwardly "normal" only hours before. Unlike women they don't discuss personal emotions, keep things bottled up. I suspect we both know personal examples. The tragedy is that if he had sought help (and we are talking about the 1970s here so perhaps I'm being naive) he may have been give enough insight into his own illness to deal with the demons which drove him to leave us too soon.
I attended a concert by the early music consort of London that was presented add Royce Hall, UCLA in the early 1970s. It was incredible. Then I met Munrow 2 weeks later at a concert of the Los Angeles chamber orchestra with sir Neville Marriner conducting. 2 weeks later Munrow was deceased 😢
I began to love ancient music thanks to David Munrow. Unfortunately David left us too early. For me he is the greatest pioneer of ancient music in modern times.
Wonderful to rediscover David Munrow - I haven't seen this since 1977! I remember coming home in May 1976 to see a note on the front page of The TImes - Obituary: Mr David Munrow. I could not believe it was the David Munrow and was totally shocked to read it was. A wonderful talent still greatly missed.
ONE OF HIS GREATEST RECORDINGS WAS SAMMARTINI'S CONCERTO. CAN ONE OF HIS ADMIRERS HERE INFORM ME HOW I CAN POSSIBLY PURCHASE THIS RECORDING, BE IT LP OR PREFERABLY A CD? I'D APPRECIATE IT TREMENDOUSLY.
@@rubensiedner4584 Ruben - I am surprised this has not been re-released. it may be a long haul through vinyl shops. Maybe ebay. In other words, I do not know... Michael.
david munrow inspired me when i was just starting... he was my jimi hendrix, my miles davis... what a tragic loss!!! thanks for putting these vids up on line!!! love the bagpipe fart at 6:12 and munrow's laugh... i remember watching and laughing too way, way back...
Sadly back in the time access to such content as this was very limited, David Munrow tried to popularise old music trough his TV show, I guess on BBC, but we didn't have such in the Netherlands. It's thanks to RU-vid that I learn about old music and instruments and I have to say that the middle ages and renaissance for me are much more interesting periods in music than the later baroque, classical and romantic periods. The sounds of Crumhorns, Regal and Medieval Bagpipes really do it for me, of course accompanied by other types of flutes, strings and percussion. If I had known the existence of such instruments when I was young I would probably have played Crumhorn instead of Guitar!
Such a prodigious talent. Gone way too soon. Living outside of the UK, I never got to see him, though I bought several of his albums (which I still treasure). It's a joy to see the clips so kindly uploaded here. Thank-you so much for sharing.
I remember a TV series for schools called mistress of Hardwick where his consort group played all the Tudor music from the time of Bess of Hardwick .brought the whole Tudor era for me alive .that was me hooked brilliant show n music thank you .
David Munrow's death was a tragic loss to musicians and musicology. I grew up watching and enjoying his programs. I am delighted to find this footage here on YT. Many thanks for posting.
Thanks to his early work with the Consort, we now have the effects of the period instrument (Historically Informed Performance) idea. I think all music should be played with instruments the composer would have recognized, with the same forces, seating plans, etc.It sounds so much more convincing. I too recall the announcement of his death.
Just 'discovered' Mr Munrow, very appreciative of his legacy. Interesting side note: this instrument is used as a lead instrument in Cuba (in heavily percussive carnaval music) and there's it's called Trumpeta China. I'm watching the clip now so I don't know if he mentioned this.
When I was a child, i got into listening to music in a big way. I had an idea for a version of Ma Bella Marghareta on flute and drum. Instrumentally, it would have actually sounded rather like that final tune. It's probably thanks to David Munroe that I really like early music, particularly medieval, but he died when I was still really young.
Stephen, thank you for uploading this. I have several recordings by David Munrow (and ensembles), including introduction to instruments of the middle ages and renaissance, but have never seen this video. It's staggering how much enthusiasm and skill David had for early music. Think I will order the DVD of the 6 TV recordings in order to see more of this, and also the actual instruments he played. One of my favourite recordings is the Art of Courtly Love (double CD).
