One Sunday recently, I decided to walk along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath to East Riddlesden Hall, our local National Trust property. It's a 17th century manor house, extended and remodelled on the site of an earlier house by a wealthy wool merchant, James Murgatroyd, in the mid-1600s. In the 19th/early 20th century it fell into disrepair and the Starkie wing (below) was almost entirely demolished, leaving only the façade. The hall (though sadly not much of its estate and related buildings) was eventually rescued by far-sighted locals, the Brigg brothers, before being donated to the National Trust in 1938.
My visit coincided with a performance by a local early music group, Dulciana. They were playing traditional 16th century music on a variety of authentic instruments including recorders, crumhorns, shawms, chalumeau and flutes. I enjoyed listening to them. The instruments take a lot of skill - and breath control - to master, but the resulting music was lyrical and soothing, occasionally breaking into what I imagined was music to accompany those stately court dances. It was a reminder of how music would have been a shared pastime for families around the fireplace in times gone by.
The instruments above are gemshorns, made from the horns of cows or goats. Below, the lady is playing a small wooden crumhorn. I always find it heartwarming when people, passionate about a hobby, are willing to share their enthusiasm and skills with others. It was most enjoyable to listen and learn.
If you'd like to hear a crumhorn playing, try this video. It's a delight:
A perfect spot for this music.
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