Re: Recorders and Gallery Quire music

Posted by Mike Bailey on
URL: http://west-gallery-music-association-discussion-forum.417.s1.nabble.com/Recorders-and-Gallery-Quire-music-tp63p64.html

Hello Gillian, I have never seen evidence of gallery bands playing recorders. Following the Restoration there is evidence that psalmody was initially unaccompanied, and that instruments were needed to support the singers. Probably the first to be adopted were bassoon and low strings. Later we find all the woodwind and strings, and even some brass. I know of one band that had a piccolo and two flutes, which must have played above the voices. The singing was likely to include the congregation.
Before the Restoration, I think it's possible that lute and recorder might have accompanied psalm singing. Organs were probably used too. The circumstances were probably private chapels, not congregational but intimate.
If you are interested in what can be played today in your band, we have accepted recorders in other places. We have found that descant can be a bit strident. Treble works well on the alto, an octave above the voice. Tenor and bass can be too quiet to be heard in a typical modern context with other instruments. My policy would be to encourage everyone, whatever they play, but accordions, guitars and keyboards are less suitable as regular members of the modern WG band. Mike Bailey