European Courtly Music circa 1550. Early Music Consort of London directed by David Munrow

This is a final installation of video clips from David Munrow's TV series "Early Music Instruments." I have selected relatively obscure pieces from the period between 1530 and 1570. As you can see and hear, Munrow has yet again chosen some of the finest instrumental performers the world over to execute his repertoire. If you enjoyed this video, please see some of my other compilations. If you are a fan of this genre of classical music, you can purchase the complete set of DVD formatted recordings of this series from the UK at the following website: davidmunrow.org. What my clips lack that the original DVDs have preserved are Munrow's easily accessible lessons about the individual instruments and their historical context. In addition to being an amazing performer, Munrow was doubtless one of the great pioneers of music education and musicology in the 20th Century. Most of all, for younger audiences, he made early music something of a hip phenomenon - not an arcane thing hidden away in library archives.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• European
• Courtly
• Early
• Music
• Consort
• London
• David
• Munrow

[catsthemusical]

What instrument is being played in the Caro Ortolano piece from 3:44-5:08?

[earliermusic]

@catsthemusical

It's called a rackett. It's similar in mechanism to a dulcian (early bassoon) except the internal tubing is folded up like a trombone.

[hovinarri123]

@earliermusic just to clarify... the rackett actually had up to nine "folds" in the tubing which is to say that it was potentially nine times longer than its apparent height!!! it is VERY tricky to play what with using all your finger and thumb tips and some of the finger joints!!!

[16mmDJ]

I really wish I owned a rackett!

[baxter5431]

This is just great! Never saw these videos before although have been listening to Munrow and the "Consort" for about thirty years through recordings. So, how come American PBS doesn't put on more shows like this instead of always about race riots and GLTG propaganda???

[fredrikhildebrand]

@earliermusic Or "wurst-fagott" (sausage bassoon) as Praetorius also calls it ;)

[jimj122680]

This music kicks ass!!!

[killie04]

Wonderful. I have a love of early music and this hits the mark. Thanks for posting.

[MarinaAleyeva]

Amazing. Thank you so much for posting it. I didn't even know the rackett existed!

[catsthemusical]

@earliermusic Ah, thank you! What an interesting and excellent little instrument!