About Us
About Us |
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| The Peregrine Recorder
Orchestra is a friendly family of some 20 recorder players. Meetings
are held regularly every 2 weeks on Thursday evenings at Ickwell Village Hall,
Bedfordshire, between 8 pm and 10 pm, with a coffee break included. |
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| Most concerts result from invitations by various charitable organisations in the Mid Beds area, but occasionally invitations come from further afield. A recorder orchestra should not be confused with the usual recorder group or ensemble. Contrasting effects can be obtained by the use of different numbers of players on parts. Sometimes a solo player is required on a particular part, sometimes 2 players, and sometimes a number of players all on the same part. This is an added challenge to general ensemble playing. The members of the orchestra come from a wide area including Northampton, St Neots, Biggleswade, Bedford, Letchworth, Ashwell, Oakley and Luton. | |
| They need to have had some experience of recorder playing and be able to sight read the music fairly well. Opportunity may be given to those wishing to try their hand at very large, expensive recorders belonging to the orchestra. Parts are supplied for personal practice at home. Ages range from 15 to 70 years old at the present time. | |
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| Instruments of the orchestra comprise: Garklein, Sopranino, Descants, Trebles, Tenors, Bases, Great Bases in C, and Contra Bases in F. A careful watch is kept on the number of players on each part to maintain an overall balance of sound. Because of this it is useful if some players are flexible as to which instrument they play, but players usually stick to one instrument for a concert. | |
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| As a registered charity, members give a donation of £15 per term for 3 terms per year which covers expenses such as room hire, music, postage, coffee and biscuits etc. The aim is for 3 concerts per year, but extras are sometimes included. Concerts may occur on any day or evening of the week. | |
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| A list of rehearsal dates and concerts is supplied in advance for each year. The orchestra started in 1985, as an ensemble of selected members of the Society of Recorder Players plus a few others. It is one of just six such orchestras in the country, and only a few others around the world. The idea is catching on although some groups call themselves recorder orchestras when they do not comprise the standard form instigated by Edgar Hunt in the 1960s. Over the years Peregrine have had many happy experiences in playing for diverse charities. They are anxious to increase the number of players on all instruments especially the lower ones. An ideal number would be 30. Some items may not include sopraninos, descants or trebles. A lottery grant in Autumn 2002 enabled us to buy some large recorders and commission a new work by a well-known composer. This was performed for the first time in November 2003. |
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Players are expected to attend a majority of
the rehearsals, and particularly the final rehearsals before a
concert. Guest soloists of all kinds are invited to add variety and
interest to the concerts. Sometimes it may be necessary to invite
experienced players from further afield, to swell the orchestral
sound. The music played covers a wide range of styles from the
renaissance period to the present day. Some music is purchased, some
loaned by other similar orchestras and some is arranged or composed exclusively
for the orchestra by the musical director, Ian Farquhar. |
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This document maintained by
elaine@peregrine-recorder-orchestra.org.uk
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