Our first virtual mini-workshop on Saturday, September 7 marked the first activity of the new season! Our friend, Glen Shannon, presented another outstanding morning of music and commentary that was attended by 28 participants from HMRS and our cooperating chapter, the Recorder Society of Connecticut (RSC). The joint sponsorship of our series of 10 mini-workshops during our season by HMRS and RSC allows us to enjoy virtual coaching by outstanding presenters from across the US and UK. Because of the Labor Day holiday, our schedule for the month is a bit condensed so HMRS members are alerted that the first in person playing session will occur on Sunday, September 15. See the Activities page of the website for details.
We are pleased to report that 19 HMRS members have renewed and we have also received a number of generous donations! Those members who have not yet renewed are reminded that with the season activities underway, the deadline for renewal is September 30. Final dues reminder notices have been emailed by the Secretary. Why not save postage and bring your check to the playing session on Sunday?
HMRS doesn’t have formal activities in July. There are so many activities for musicians in July and many HMRS members have an abundance of gigs with a variety of groups large and small. School kids may attend music camps and clinics but adult members of musical groups get in on the summer action as well. One of the premier annual “camps”, Amherst Early Music, went on the road to Union College in Schenectady early in July and presented its fabulous array of classes, concerts and fun with music from the medieval to today with an emphasis on early. Attendees played lots of sizes of recorders and viols in addition to singing and dancing. There were opportunities to study the history of early music as well as early systems of musical notation in addition to specialized instrumental and vocal techniques with outstanding performers.
Five members of HMRS, Linda Botimer, Judy Pardee, Janith Mason, Deb Segal and Kathy Kuhrt attended at least one of the two weeks of camp.
Our musicians presented concerts culminating in a presentation on the final Saturday morning. A large group of mixed instruments and a double choir presented three pieces by some lions of the Renaisance in the Nott Memorial, a high-ceilinged circular building with a lively and rich sound. The performance was quite impressive.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Jen Carpenter will be unable to present her previously scheduled virtual mini-workshop on May 4. We are very pleased to present a replacement coach for the May 4 mini-workshop. Frances Blaker, will present a program that should be most interesting and you will not want to miss it. Frances is a very well-known performer, coach and presenter and will be part of the staff of the Amherst Early Music session at Union College this summer. Check out her biography on the Activities page. We hope to plan a mini-workshop with Jen next season.
The 2023-2024 season of programming for the Hudson Mohawk Recorder Society kicked off on September 9th with a well-received virtual mini-workshop by our friend Glen Shannon. We return to in-person playing sessions on Sunday afternoon, September 24 at 2pm. As usual, paid members receive email announcements prior to each scheduled activity. The emails include details such as Zoom links for virtual sessions and download links for music to be printed for each virtual or in-person session.
The deadline for dues payments for new and renewing members is September 30, 2023. Send your check for the $50 annual payment to HMRS Treasurer, Gail Robinson now to avoid missing any programming after October 1. Gail will also accept payments at the September 24th in-person session. A downloadable membership/renewal form may be found on the Membership page of this website. Use the form to confirm or update your contact information including mailing address, phone, and email address.
Susan Iodone, Music Director of the Recorder Society of Connecticut (RSC) has completed arrangements for the coaching faculty for the upcoming season of our monthly series co-sponsored by HMRS and RSC.
September 9- Glen Shannon (California)
October 14- Rainer Beckmann (Philadelphia)
November 4- Anne Timberlake (Missouri)
December 2- Moira Usher (UK)
January 6- Helen Hooker (UK)
February 3- Tom Beets (Belgium)
March 2- Ruth Burbidge (UK)
April 6- Sue Handscombe (UK)
May 4- Jennifer Carpenter (Colorado)
June 1- Michael Graham (UK)
Lycaeides ensemble played a concert at Coburg Village retirement community in Clifton Park in January 2023. This performance was dedicated to Carolyn Hermes, our friend and Lycaeides colleague. She was a long-time recorder player and HMRS member. Carolyn was working on the Coburg Village concert with Lycaeides when she passed away in December. Players for this concert: Linda Botimer, Judy Pardee, Melanie Axel-Lute, Marie Carreno-Maas and Bob Schultz.
We were pleased to be visited by Helen Hooker for the second January in a row to kick off another year of virtual mini-workshops with an interesting and wide-ranging set of pieces from 4 musical eras. An attendance comprising 38 members of the Hudson Mohawk Recorder Society and the Recorder Society of Connecticut enjoyed a few minutes of exchanging New Year’s greetings prior to digging into the day’s music. Historical background and performance tips and techniques were offered for each piece. We are thrilled to announce that new members were introduced for each of the Societies. The cooperative joint sponsorship of the second annual 10-part series of mini-workshops by HMRS and RSC has proven to be a great success, forging robust participation, musical enjoyment and new friendships.
The Hudson Mohawk Recorder Society wishes you and yours a Happy and Musical Holiday Season and a Prosperous 2023! We invite you to join us for the joy and reward that music making with friends brings.
Among the varied music presented by our next virtual mini-workshop leader, Moira Usher, on December 3, will be a traditional Basque carol and a Christmas tune, curiously set to an Israeli traditional melody by Flatau.
We will temporarily set aside our review of pieces from recent virtual mini-workshops in favor of a program of holiday favorites drawn from the HMRS Library collection at our next in-person playing session on Sunday, December 18.
Save these dates!
The skies over the UK cleared and Sue Handscombe came through Zoom just fine this morning (at least for us–afternoon for her) and delivered an informative program ranging from Medieval to mid-twentieth century origins. Her commentary touched on relaxation tips, appropriate articulation, tongue placement, efficient breathing, and music history, interspersed with interesting anecdotes. When she mentioned the residence in NYC in which Dvorak once briefly resided, Susan Iadone was quick to add that she lives near that very building and it is marked with a plaque to commemorate the famous former occupant. The conversation was sparked by our playing of an arrangement of the Largo from “The New World” symphony. I was very pleased to see approximately 30 members attending the session.
Next Sunday we will gather for another in-person playing session, concentrating on our playbook for the season. Look for an email for final details this week. Remember to print and bring your own copies of the indicated music.
Looking ahead to December, we kick off the month with a virtual visit from Moira Usher and just before Christmas we will have a special in-person playing session full of holiday music. Don’t miss it!
