Early Music world marks 50 years since the passing of David Munrow
Half a century after his death at just 33 years old, the Early Music world celebrates the seminal role and lasting legacy of David Munrow.
David Munrow shone a light on the possibilities of historical performance and brought it into the public eye in a way that no musician had done before. In a career spanning only a little over a decade, he made dozens of recordings, presented hundreds of BBC broadcasts, and founded the Early Music Consort of London. Inspired by the 'Alte Musik' movement in Germany, his work on the radio and with his ensembles spearheaded the Early Music revival in the UK.
His life and achievements are being marked in a number of different ways across the media. BBC Radio 3 has devoted a week (11-15 May) of The Essay to Munrow (available now on BBC Sounds). Each 14-minute episode explores a different part of his world: from his role in popularising Early Music – a move that made him a controversial figure in some quarters – to his adventures with the flute and the broader musical universe he opened up for listeners young and old.
Writing in The Guardian, flautist and musicologist Edward Blakeman offers a personal portrait of Munrow and his brilliance and the qualities that set him apart: a refusal to talk down to his audience and a gift for making ancient sounds feel alive and relevant in the modern age.
Today (15 May), Warner Classics releases The Art of David Munrow: Complete Warner Edition – a 21-CD box set on the Erato label displaying his 'immense virtuosity, eclecticism, and pioneering spirit'. This collection of recordings from 1969-75 features Munrow's own ensembles alongside other leading orchestras and conductors of the time, including London Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Neville Marriner and Sir Adrian Boult.
Tomorrow (Saturday 16 May) we will be releasing an exclusive feature discussing David Munrow's life and work with Dr Penelope Rapson of Fiori Musicali ahead of their series of four Continuo Foundation-supported concerts celebrating his legacy. To be the first to receive it, sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter.