by Tim Gannicliffe
I began to appreciate early music without realising it, as I always loved hymns and carols from a young age singing in choirs and in church services. I always preferred the ‘older’ carols such as In dulce jubilo, albeit in the R.L. Pearsall arrangement, and Es in ein Ros Ensprungen. The composer Praetorius then meant nothing to me then, but I always had a liking for hymns based on Lutheran and Bach chorales. Although I have always sung in choirs and played in various ensembles, I rarely played or sang Early music. Although I do recall singing some Christmas music by Schutz, which I liked. Some years ago in the days of cassettes I heard a recording on Classic FM of a realisation of a Lutheran Christmas Mass by Paul McCreesh using the music of Praetorius and Schein. The performance was in Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark with a congregational choir, large band and an organ making a big sound. I was absolutely bowled over by this. The cassette was worn out by playing, so replaced by a CD. I did not perform early music until I had to give the tuba in my mid 30s and took up the bass recorder instead. I was forced to drop the tuba with a great regret as I developed a neurological condition that affected my lips and tongue so that I was unable to form an embouchure. The only early music composer from those days that I do remember and liked was a set of dances by Tylman Susato arranged for brass ensemble. So over the years I attended recorder and then early music workshops, gradually becoming acquainted with this period of music. I play the recorder in a group based in Ellesmere Port, where we do play a large range of music. I joined the committee of NWEMF, with a brief spell as Chair. Recently I have joined the council of BMEMF, and enjoy organising workshop and liaising with tutors, although it can have its frustrations.
Tm Gannicliffe
Published in the February 2026 Newsletter
