Whilst Sir Neville Marriner, a veritable national treasure, who turns 90 on 15 April 2014, provides stylish accompaniments with the Academy’s modern instruments, the star of this album is the late David Munrow, who did so much to popularize early music and its instruments, particularly the recorder and was one of the pioneers of the ‘early music’ movement.

Munrow founded the Early Music Consort of London, along with Christopher Hogwood (featured on this LP) and came to wider fame as provider of authentic Tudor music to two major BBC Television Dramas: The Six Wives of Henry VIII in 1970 and Elizabeth R in 1971. In a career that only lasted 10 years, he recorded over 50 albums, presented his own eclectic BBC Radio 3 programme Pied Piper, and television programmes on both BBC and ITV. Suffering from depression, his life was tragically cut short by his own hand in 1976 at the age of 33.

Recorded on October 1-4, 1973 at No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London with legendary producer Christopher Bishop and engineer Stuart Eltham. The album was pressed on 180g vinyl to audiophile standards using the original EMI presses by The Vinyl Factory in Hayes, England. Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analogue master tapes with the Neumann VMS82 lathe fed an analogue pre-cut signal from a specially adapted Studer A80 tape deck with additional ‘advance’ playback head, making the cut a totally analogue process. Also features the original album artwork.

“Anyone who admires the skill and the vivacious musicianship of David Munrow ought to try this attractive disc. He plays the treble recorder in the Telemann and Handel items and the soprano (or descant) in the Sammartini, both with the greatest agility, with nicety of phrasing, and with a sureness of intonation all too uncommon among players of this instrument.” -Gramophone

Features:
• Hi-Q Records Supercuts 180g Vinyl
• Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analogue master tapes
• Superior Audiophile Pressing
• Features Original Album Artwork

Musicians:
David Munrow, recorder
Academy of St. Martin-In-the-Fields
Neville Marriner, conductor