David Munrow

about

Born in Birmingham, he was the son of Albert Munrow, a Birmingham University lecturer and physical education instructor who wrote a book on the subject, and was so highly respected that a sports centre was named after him. David Munrow himself attended King Edward's School, Birmingham, until 1960. He excelled academically. In 1960 David Munrow went to Peru, teaching English under the British Council Overseas Voluntary Scheme. He returned with Bolivian flutes and other obscure instruments. Studying English at Pembroke College, Cambridge, he noticed a crumhorn on a friend's wall and threw himself into independent study that climaxed in his book Instruments of the Middle Age and Renaissance (1976). From his starting position as a pianist, singer and bassoonist he taught himself many old instruments. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company as a bassoonist but soon played instruments of Shakespeare's time. Although he displayed talent on a wide variety of instruments he had a particular lasting influence as a recorder player - his 'English' style of discreet, controlled expression being in marked contrast to the greater tonal flexibility displayed by the 'continental' style espoused by the likes of Frans Brüggen. By 1967 he was a lecturer at the University of Leicester and married to Gillian Reid. He teamed up with Christopher Hogwood to form the Early Music Consort, each of whose core members was an expert in his or her own right. Sometimes other professional musicians were emp

top songs

albums

Ecco La Primavera - Florentine Music Of The 14th Century

Instruments of Middle Age and Renaissance

Various: Danseryes (Renaissance)

The Art of the Netherlands

▥

The Triumphs of Maximilian

Music of the Gothic Era

The Art of the Recorder - La Folia

The Art of Courtly Love

▥

Telemann: Suite in A Minor - Sammartini & Handel: Recorder Concertos

Pleasures of the Royal Courts

Music of the Crusades

▥

Music at the time of the Crusades

similar artists