Our Leader for This Meeting

James Grush returned to Boulder 42 years after being brought to the University of Colorado as a Graduate Assistant in Oboe and Music History by Dean Warner Imig. Dr. Grush studied with Ray Still, principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, at Northwestern University (B. Mus. 1963), and Ralph Gomberg, principal oboe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at Boston University's School of Fine and Applied Arts (Mus. A.D., 1972). He was at the Aspen Music Festival for 3 summers where he played with the Aspen Festival Orchestra and was a Fellow of the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood) where he played with the Boston Symphony Orchestras. He has been principal oboe and soloist with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras., a recitalist and member of woodwind quintets and chamber ensembles, conductor and music director of the Spokane Civic Theater Opera Orchestra and the Fort Wright College Orchestra, taught oboe, bassoon and music subjects including history, theory, orchestration form and analysis, conducting, and coached ensembles at a number of colleges and universities. He played old woodwinds in the Boston University Collegium Musicum. His dissertation, A Guide to the Study of Classical Oboe (Boston University, 1972, is one of the first modern instruction books for old instruments which combines a survey of period tutors with practical experiments on surviving historical oboes in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Dr. Grush has transcibed, arranged or composed more than 200 works for recorder ensembles. He now plays in a trio with Trudy Wayne and John Geohagen, who have given many first performances of these works.

President's Message

For those who are not yet listed as Members in Good Standing, this is your last chance to be included in the Directory Addendum to be published shortly. We're happy to have your participation regardless, but your membership dues allow us not only to fund our programs, but also to support other recorder playing organizations. This year, for instance, we were able to donate twenty music stands to Alsup Elementary School for their recorder training program. A printable membership renewal form can be found on our website, http://www.denverrecordersociety.org/

Thanks, Dick Munz

Officers Elected

At the April general meeting, the membership unanimously elected last year's Denver Chapter Officers to serve for the 2010-2011 Season:
President: Dick Munz
Vice President/Secretary: Bill Conklin
Treasurer: Susy Wilcox
Program Director: Paul Brunson
Newsletter Editor: Bruce Nelson
Librarian: Susan Osborn
Member-at-Large: Victoria Taylor (Refreshment Fairy)
Member-at-Large: Jennifer Myers (Web Mistress)
Member-at-Large: Janet Handmaker (New Member Scout)

Recorder Newbies, Take Notice

May’s Newbie group is not to be missed. You will have an opportunity to meet and to play with Philip Belefski, a multi-talented musician and member of Stoptime Jazz Band. He will host a session of baroque music to include selections from Bach’s Mary Magdelena Notebook as well as pieces by other well-known baroque composers. This accessible and familiar music lends itself easily to the recorder—an instrument that enjoyed its heyday during the baroque period. The Newbie Group gives newer players an opportunity to play small ensemble music in a safe setting. Session is free of charge and open to the public. Drop-ins welcome.

Date: Sunday, May 16th
Time: 12:45 ‘til 1:45 pm
Place: Unity Church, 3021 S. University, Denver CO, 2nd floor
Host: Philip Belefski
Music: Duets and trios of the baroque era

Members in Good Standing

Jill Adams, Louise Adler, Karen Anderson, Shirley Baker, Jo Anne Barnes, Phil Belefski, Erin Bell, Jann Benson, Rebecca Beshore, Roberta Blanc, David Brock, Paul Brunson, Kitty Comstock, Bill Conklin, Virginia Cortes, Lynda Coy, Charles Dana, Keith Emerson, Mike Emptage, Barbara Fahey, Nancy Fey, Judy Fritz, Rose Mary Glista, Elaine Granata, Janet Handmaker, Patrick Heid, Chris Hollingsworth, Deborah Horner, Phil Klos, Kent & Liz Kreider, John LeVett, Joyce Lowery, Bob McCarroll, Peggy McCreary, Lisa McInnis, Judy Miller, Paul Mimlitsch, Dick Munz, Jennifer Myers, Bruce Nelson, Ruth Neubauer, Gail Nickless, Susan Osborn, Bob Pease, Margaret Peterson, Ed Pinfield, Connie Primus, Sally Pyle, Karl Reque, Justine Romero, Miriam Rosenblum, Virginia Schlieker, Mary Scott, Mary Sloan, Pat Selby, Victoria Taylor, Rosi Terada, Gerrie Vendegna, Trudy Wayne, Susan Wilcox, Ann Williams, Madeline Zanetti, Mayianne Zwahlen. If your name does not appear on this list following the month you mail your check, please contact Dick Munz.

Oh, Hollow! Hollow! Hollow!

A Gold Star to those who recognized this highly aesthetic poem title from Gilbert & Sullivan's Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride. The Empire Lyric Players will present six performances of Patience at Shwayder Theatre, 350 South Dahlia Street, Denver, June 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m.; other performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 and can be obtained from Charlene at 303-722-5336.

Music for Sale

Large number of classical CDs for sale: flute/recorder, orchestral, opera, choral, chamber, keyboard, world music. Many with original instruments such as traverso, recorder, fortepiano, viola de gamba. All original discs in excellent condition with original inserts and artwork. Some multiple disc sets. $2.00 to $25.00. Call Julia Elliott at 303.733.6461 or email move2montreal@gmail.com to receive a detailed .pdf file. Discount available for quantity purchases.

Coming in October

Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October, 24 – performances of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 by the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Choir and Friends under the direction of Evanne Browne. The performance will be “historically informed,” and volunteers are being sought. Particular needs that may be met by Boulder chapter members: early brass players (by audition), choristers (any experience level, no audition required, a few rehearsals in Boulder over the summer), male singers for the chant choir (no audition required, some rehearsals in the fall), contacts for potential workshops or concerts featuring the guest instrumentalists (baroque violin, theorbo, cornetto, sackbutt, harpsichord).This is a major musical undertaking to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of this work. For information, contact Evanne Browne, Director of Music, First United Methodist Church in Boulder at ebrowne@ fumcboulder.org or 303-442-3770 x. 139.

New Pieces to Play!

Dick Wood of Colorado Springs has created several recorder quartet pieces in the last few years and they are delightful. He has graciously made them available to all of us. The titles give them away for what they are: modern and jazzy, but reminiscent of earlier recorder music.
Jazzy Fugue
Blockflute Blues
The Broadmoor Branle
The Medallion Slow March
The Bluezees
These are scanned now and available to transmit via email attachment. They all include a score and some have the SATB parts. You may request any or all. They're all good. To receive an arrangement, send email to denverrecorder@gmail.com and specify which piece(s) you want. Each sheet is about 500 KB and some pieces have as many as eight sheets.

Group Corner

News of the activities and postings from area musical groups having recorder players. Check the chapter website for a listing of all groups that we know of, including contact information.
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Marylebone Garden Players continues are attempt to sight read the majority of music written between 1200 and 1800. We will play in the garden on June 11 at the 2010 HIghlands Garden Tour. We will have five sessions and a gourmet lunch while the tourists enjoy the garden and the music. We also plan another Schickhardt Saturday. This year, we are getting so good, we might read through a dozen multi voice baroque sonatas in a one day session.
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StopTime had a relaxed April after the hectic, four-performance March. We're enjoying looking at prospective new music, even if it means we may have to piece together our own arrangements. And can you believe it? We stumbled upon a piece written by Scott Joplin: The Stop Time Rag. Got to work on that one!
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Thin Air: An Eclectic Ensemble -- an open, informal group of folks who are intent upon keeping up their musical skills as well as having fun. Our fun band welcomes anyone that wants to play any instrument. Now meeting Saturdays, 9 a.m. (Priestley rm.) at the Jefferson Unitarian Church, located in Golden at 32nd and McIntyre. 14350 W. 32nd Avenue. Erika Sueker (720-849-3708)
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Fipple Jive has two sessions per week, one at 7:00pm on Tuesday evenings, and one at 11:30am on Saturday mornings. The Tuesday evening sessions are held in Thornton and the Saturday morning sessions are held in Lakewood. These are drop-in sessions and anyone is welcome. We focus on developing the skills that are needed to play without resort to printed music and to improvise on tunes we know. For the foreseeable future we will be working on arpeggiating commonly used chords in a twelve-bar blues format. For more information, contact Dick Munz at dickmunz@gmail.com or 303-286-7909.
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Our Longmont/Boulder trio (James, John and Trudy) gave a concert at a new venue here in Longmont at the new independent/assisted living facility called The Vistas. We had a very receptive audience of about 20 people who had never seen nor heard a recorder before, so were quite taken with this new experience. They really enjoy and sing-along with "Name that Tune" part of our program. James has arranged late 19th and early 20th century songs such as "Goober Peas" and "St. Louis Blues". Our next concert will be May 18th at 6:30 at our favorite place: the Boulder West Senior Center where we play after dinner and because it's their popular "rib night" we are assured of a good turn out. Our program will include early Renaissance music of Isaac, Janequin, Willaert, Fevin, and Josquin Desprez, and of course more of the popular "Name that Tune!"
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In April the Newbies played Renaissance Songs and Dances under the very capable leadership of Bruce Nelson. If you are new to the recorder and want to play in a small ensemble, this group is for you. You will have an opportunity to meet ARS members on a one-to-one basis and get a sense of the joy of this gratifying hobby.
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The Wayward Clefs participated in the Early Music Colorado soiree at the First United Methodist Church in Boulder on the evening of 4/23/10, along with the Consort of Viols and the Rose Garden Quartet. Our program included: Gavotte (Claude le Jeune) performed while marching in, Echo (anon.), Ballet de Trois aages (Michael Praetorius, arr. Suzanne Angevine), Beata Es (secunda pars of motet Assunpta est Maria, anon.), Fastnachstanz (Praetorius), Susanna Fair (William Byrd) and Cat Tracks (by our own Suzanne Angevine). The Cat Tracks piece was especially well received, and included a "costume change" of mouse ears for Suzanne and cat ears for the rest of the Clefs! After all, we have to live up to our Wayward persona...
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Get a Gamba!

Interested in learning more about the Viola da Gamba? A limited number of student quality viols are available for rental at a reasonable monthly rate. Please call Bill Conklin at 303-455-0837 for more information.