This group was put together in the October, to start rehearsing a recorder item for the Christmas Celebration service. We had one piece of music which we had not managed to perform last year, as one of us had only just got it on a CD for Christmas! Also we thought we would bring back two favourites from last year, and go up a step by having people singing the songs with us as we played! We had a few really good practices with a great atmosphere, and on the day everything went well. Below is a list of what we played, recordings taken from a practice just prior. If any of these links do not work, please send me an e-mail and let me know.
Rachael found this among her collection of music, and we chose it because it was such a pretty piece of music, and she did a wonderful job of writing out four parts for this, just from a piano score. Unfortunately we have not been able to find any words for this, nor could we find out where it came from. If anyone can enlighten us, we would be very grateful.
Descant recorder: Janette.
Treble recorders: Charlotte, Sarah and Pippa.
Tenor recorder: Rachael.
Click here to hear this song (1:00 minutes, MP3 format)
This song is a traditional Basque carol, which was translated into English by Sabine Baring-Gould, who lived from 1834 to 1924. Carols started appearing from the 12th century, some like this one forming the basis of a dance. Gabriel's song talks about the part of the story of Jesus' birth where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and told her she was going to have a child, who would be called Jesus... This song featured on a CD which Cate got last Christmas. Janette wrote out the score, and latterly, Cate composed the harmony, which she sings in the last verse, and which Rachael is playing as a low harmony throughout also.
Treble recorders: Janette, Rachael and Sarah.
Singers: Cate and Sue.
Click here to hear this song (2:48 minutes, MP3 format)
This song was also designed to portay sections of scripture. This is a lullaby and lament by the women of Bethlehem, as King Herod sent his soldiers to slay all baby boys in an attempt to catch Jesus. It was first performed in 1591 at the Mediaeval Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. We used a ready-made score for most of the parts, with Rachael co-ordinating and adding more.
Descant recorder: Janette.
Treble recorders: Rachael, Charlotte and Pippa.
Tenor recorder: Sarah.
Singers: Cate and Sue.
Click here to hear this song (2:55 minutes, MP3 format)
We hope you like hearing these songs. More will be added onto the website as they are performed, and perhaps we will bring one or two past songs to you as well.