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!
Unfortunately, problems with Internet transmission in the UK made it impossible for Sue Handscombe to establish a suitable link to Zoom to enable her presentation on Saturday, November 5. We regret the disappointment for the large group patiently awaiting the presentation but are pleased to announce that the mini-workshop has been rescheduled for November 12 at 10:00. HMRS members will receive another updated email reminder and link soon. Watch for the email and we hope to see you then!
Thirteen members, including two new faces, enjoyed an afternoon of in person music-making. Attendees returned to the season playbook of pieces selected from past virtual mini-workshops. It’s great to get together again and work through some of the more challenging portions of the pieces and appreciate the “group sound”.
Janith Mason, HMRS secretary included her observation that, “… it’s clear that playing together in person rewards us in so many ways!” as she emailed the announcement of our upcoming virtual mini-workshop this evening. Well said, and judging from the enthusiasm of the group that stayed around for a chat following the music, that observation was shared by many.
Late October brings us another in-person playing session on Sunday, October 23 at 2:00pm. Join us for a playing session featuring pieces from our new season playlist. Check the Activities page for details.
The first Saturday morning in November will feature a return visit by Sue Handscombe for another in our series of virtual mini-workshops. Our ten-part series of virtual mini-workshops is co-sponsored by our friends at the Recorder Society of Connecticut. The virtual presentation will begin at 10:00am and the session will open at 9:30am for our usual informal “chat”. Details for the program will appear soon on the Activities page.
