David Munrow

My music is here: sardinebutty.bandcamp.com
To buy the full DVD of David Munrow's amazing TV series visit: www.davidmunrow.org/
David Munrow shook the dust off Medieval Music and was a pioneer of the revival of period instruments and of Early Music in general. Here he is at his lovable best.

[@barrypoupard7009]

I'd like to share a story. In 1972 I was in 2nd year of secondary school and my friend came to school and told me the previous evening he'd attended a concert given by DM and the Early Music Consort at Partick Burgh Halls (in Glasgow). The concert to mark the UK's accession to the EEC had attracted a tiny audience of around 20 people. The following year the same friend and I attended a Summer Prom concert at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow (only about 2 miles away from the other venue) given by the EMC who were guests of the SNO. The Hall was packed solid with 100s of appreciative concert goers with no empty seats anywhere. At the interval my friend and I managed to have a word with David who was standing with some of the other musicians ( I remember Michael Laird was one of them) surrounded by fans and well wishers. At one point David spotted my friend and turned to his wife . Pointing at my friend he said "this was one of the 20 people who came to see us last year". He then turned to my friend and said "you've brought a few of your friends with you tonight haven't you". I remember he signed our programmes.

[@ellenconyers8379]

Thank you!! Wonderful to hear

[@NormanMacCaig]

Saw him and The Early Music Consort of London in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on the 24/06/1974 as part of the Proms (still got the ticket stub) when they performed the Praetorius programme. Understood they were also at the Kelvin Hall the year previous doing the Susato programme. Didn't know about the Partick Burgh Hall recital - interesting to hear about that.

[@barrypoupard7009]

A lot of people didn't know about the PBH gig judging by the number of people who attended.

[@justintee1932]

So good of you to support the homosexual agenda

[@anthonyconcia8600]

get laid@@justintee1932

[@monacograndprixsucks3586]

Never heard of this guy before today but the way he counted in on the first instrument gave me so much joy

[@pugwashsecond]

I was fortunate enough to see David in a recital way back the 70's. Such a lovely man, his star still shines. R.I.P David

[@maidenofagespast8976]

I wish I was older to meet such an amazing musician in life :( especially this song Saltarello is my favorite ♥️♥️

[@justintee1932]

Too bad he was gay

[@SnakeBush]

i like penguins 🐧

[@mewsdo]

Brilliant demonstration. Brilliant hairstyles. Brilliant Munrow.

[@brianbethea3069]

6:12 How on earth did he not burst into tears laughing at that? Just a tiny giggle? Such discipline!

[@sunkenindeaf]

True ambassador of music. I've been listening to recordings of David Munrow and his friends for more than half of my life. Today, for the first time, got to see his face and hear his voice, then noticed that he passed away before I was born. _"How sad, how lovely, how brief."_

[@bobbobato]

I could watch this guy for hours. The music is great, and he had such an attractive personality and mode of speech.

[@JohnMcPhersonStrutt]

David Munrow's death was a tragic loss to musicians and musicology. I grew up watching and enjoying his programs. I am delighted to find this footage here on YT. Many thanks for posting.

[@blxtothis]

I’m exhausted just listening to that wonderful noise.

[@CasaNova73099]

Such a talented man who was gone too soon. RIP Mr. Munrow.

[@OneEyePI]

This

[@posnerist]

The question has to be....why did he commit suicide?

[@MrPoupard]

@@posnerist Clinical depression? He wouldn't be the first or the last.

[@posnerist]

James bowman said on the radio that he received letters from munrow presumably pertaining to this question...but he said that he was not prepared to say any more than that...so we are still in the dark ...But I believe he had tried suicide previously....so if you are correct and he was depressed...why was he not getting help and being treated?

[@MrPoupard]

@@posnerist Because unfortunately that's what men tend to do. Either they do not seek help at all or they disguise the extent of their dark illness. Like Andreas Lubitz the young German airline pilot who deliberately crashed his German Wings flight killing everyone on board or the Welsh footballer Gary Speed who took his own life whilst appearing outwardly "normal" only hours before. Unlike women they don't discuss personal emotions, keep things bottled up. I suspect we both know personal examples. The tragedy is that if he had sought help (and we are talking about the 1970s here so perhaps I'm being naive) he may have been give enough insight into his own illness to deal with the demons which drove him to leave us too soon.

[@shiromori]

From the face he's making, it must take a hell of a lot of breath to play that thing.

[@Mascas123]

I love that the shawm sounds like it's rocking!

[@clh81]

I get the sense that David Munrow was the Carl Sagan of Renaissance music.

[@captebbtide]

What a devastating loss to the world of early and Renaissance music. Were it not for David Munrow, music fans would not have as much of an understanding and appreciation for early music. And he could play so many instruments - enormous talent.

[@PhilippaAnneReed]

I have his album 'Instruments of The Middle Ages & Renaissance' and I refer back to it again and again (I'm a psaltery player) - it's absolutely fascinating and brilliant collection. He was clearly an inspired, passionate man. So sad when I discovered the nature of his passing. His legacy lives on....

[@nbenefiel]

My dad gave me that for Christmas when I was about 12

[@tuppyglossop222]

I got it for my 21st

[@benjamingeorg2027]

What gem did I find here...... ❤❤❤

[@brianlacy8725]

Uh.. how is this vid not INSANELY popular? This guy is NUTS. What a performer!

[@MrPoupard]

Watching this for the 1st time since it was originally broadcast I feel strangely emotional. I realise now that as a 14 and 15 year old I took his huge talent for granted …. and what a communicator he was. Gone too soon. His shoes have never been filled. I remember seeing the headlines in the Observer when I was on holiday " Pied Piper Dead" and being stunned. Having made his terrible decision he was not likely to fail. If only he had been treated. RIP.

[@forveillelier]

What was Pied Piper?

[@barrypoupard7009]

@@forveillelier Pied Piper was the childrens music program he presented on BBC Radio 3. The theme music was the short melody he plays here on the "little, little flute".

[@nbenefiel]

They didn’t have much to treat depression with back then. They used shock therapy.

[@feyHiker]

What a gift you have given to the world David Munrow, I wish you hadn't felt the need to leave so soon.

[@chong2389]

Thanks to David Munrow I have had a lifetime love of early music. I first heard his ensemble on a record I had borrowed from the public library in the 1960s. There was something about the music and the sounds that resonated (pun not intended) in me. I was fortunate to have played (cornetto) in an early music consort at university. David, your star burned brightly for all to short a time, but not before igniting a flame in those of us who were entertained and inspired by you. What greater legacy can anyone hope to have?

[@giorgiolamborghini813]

I began to love ancient music thanks to David Munrow. Unfortunately David left us too early. For me he is the greatest pioneer of ancient music in modern times.

[@pauljmeyer1]

This series of David Munrow and Friends is surely a gift. May the records of his life's work be kept for posterity. Like a brilliant comet he blazed and all too soon was gone.

[@akroasys100]

a dive into the past and a swim in youthful memories... ❤

[@VoicesofMusic]

Amazing.

[@JoelMielke]

Agreed!

[@danielphendarko2651]

@Voices of Music, your channel is amazing too!

[@MacJaxonManOfAction]

Thanks for this! I've never heard Munrow speak before - he has a lovely voice. It makes me weep to think of the possibilities, though I would never "judge" him for what he did, he had severe depression and I've had suicidal thoughts myself, as have many people. That said, I can't help thinking that had he lived, he could have not only made early music even more popular than he already had, but may have enjoyed a second career as a TV presenter/educator, rather like Howard Goodall has done. But regardless of what he chose to do, he would be alive. RIP you wonderful man.

[@rubensiedner4584]

Steven, I fully share your emotions. Music heals. It's the most important thing in my life; don't tell it to my wife.

[@johndoyle486]

Your light will shine forever, David.

[@NormanMacCaig]

The 16th century kid a time machine plucked to show us how it's done

[@marksted]

This man was a brilliant soul. So sad his life ended so early!

[@hovinarri123]

david munrow inspired me when i was just starting... he was my jimi hendrix, my miles davis... what a tragic loss!!! thanks for putting these vids up on line!!! love the bagpipe fart at 6:12 and munrow's laugh... i remember watching and laughing too way, way back...

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Sadly back in the time access to such content as this was very limited, David Munrow tried to popularise old music trough his TV show, I guess on BBC, but we didn't have such in the Netherlands. It's thanks to KZbin that I learn about old music and instruments and I have to say that the middle ages and renaissance for me are much more interesting periods in music than the later baroque, classical and romantic periods. The sounds of Crumhorns, Regal and Medieval Bagpipes really do it for me, of course accompanied by other types of flutes, strings and percussion. If I had known the existence of such instruments when I was young I would probably have played Crumhorn instead of Guitar!

[@wentonmastermind]

Wonderful to rediscover David Munrow - I haven't seen this since 1977! I remember coming home in May 1976 to see a note on the front page of The TImes - Obituary: Mr David Munrow. I could not believe it was the David Munrow and was totally shocked to read it was. A wonderful talent still greatly missed.

[@rubensiedner4584]

ONE OF HIS GREATEST RECORDINGS WAS SAMMARTINI'S CONCERTO. CAN ONE OF HIS ADMIRERS HERE INFORM ME HOW I CAN POSSIBLY PURCHASE THIS RECORDING, BE IT LP OR PREFERABLY A CD? I'D APPRECIATE IT TREMENDOUSLY.

[@wentonmastermind]

@@rubensiedner4584 Ruben - I am surprised this has not been re-released. it may be a long haul through vinyl shops. Maybe ebay. In other words, I do not know... Michael.

[@JessHull]

how did he die?

[@agranero6]

I love his record The art of the recorder, specially his version of La Folia.

[@georgehaggett9433]

This man is my idol

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

In around 1989 or 1990 at found an only LP by David Munrow in my local library. He introduced each track explaining the instruments and how they worked. I borrowed it and took the liberty of recording g it on cassette (piracy I know, but since it was no longer commercially available at that time it was the only way I could get a copy. I listened to that over and over again through the years. I was only in my teens. Not the sort of music that my peers were listening to, but I loved it! And now I e found this on KZbin and reading the comments about his passing so long ago is so sad. I had no idea. This man was a great and enthusiastic musician, a preserver of musical tradition and a great educator.

[@secretagent4610]

Man, this guy was shredding on that flute thingy making ALL the guitar faces. 😂

[@welshpete12]

I remembered when this series first went out on the BBC many years ago, I found it all very fascinating . There was a revival in interest in music from this time thanks to Munrow .

[@jfergs.3302]

This clip was from his ITV show, 11.30am till 12.00 on a Sunday. It was followed immediately by Weekend World. I loved the juxtaposition, this beautiful music followed quickly by Mountain's Nantucket sleighride. Another great tune.

[@justintee1932]

Wow that’s surprising bc gay men were not widely accepted at the time

[@Whiteshirtloosetie]

Still have one of his LP's. The guy is a legend and one of the music greats lost far too young.

[@redpunk]

God needed a music teacher. What can you do?

[@captebbtide]

@@redpunk More like God saw that people were unappreciative of so great a music gift and just reclaimed David.

[@grimble4564]

I don't even know what that instrument is that he's playing but he's absolutely shredding

[@charlieeverett6865]

David lives on for all of us and continues to open new worlds of music. We were so lucky to have him come along and join us for a while.

[@attilastockbroker1]

An absolute hero and inspiration to my band Barnstormer 1649.

[@jeanpeter5578]

We enjoyed his brilliant music from the excellent BBC TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII. A great loss to this genre of music.

[@lisevigneau1212]

Sounds like a wonderful man.

[@postwavepodcast7633]

This is so metal.

[@risterion]

David Munrow, un hombre contemporáneo que recordó, de pronto, que alguna vez habitó en el Medievo.

[@signumxx]

What a shame he's gone and so young. Who knows what more he would've offered to the music world had he lived. A damn shame!

[@ReallyJillRogoff]

Such a prodigious talent. Gone way too soon. Living outside of the UK, I never got to see him, though I bought several of his albums (which I still treasure). It's a joy to see the clips so kindly uploaded here. Thank-you so much for sharing.

[@nbenefiel]

My dad gave me a set of his LPs one Christmas. I practically wore it out.

[@blackletter2591]

He was wonderful. Every instrument he plays here would give you a migraine.

[@beachgirl1947]

I love this early music. I watched everything to do with David Munrow and the Consortium. I am still shocked and saddened he took his own life,

[@kelsmuno]

I LOVE YOU DAVID MUNROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alistairshaw502]

I was lucky enough to find Pied Piper fairly soon after it started. Hearing his voice again reminds me what wonderful music he brought into my life……

[@magisterprimus7611]

When David disappeared the world lost a treasure

[@ltyrell405]

What a remarkably talented and knowledgeable musician with a gift for presenting, how very sad indeed that he ended his life. He has a slight resemblance to me to Donovan Leitch.

[@randomexcessmemories4452]

He absolutely BLASTS that shawm piece at the start! Sounds just as exciting and powerful as anything else made today, likely more so! The rest is all amazing too, and I'm gonna buy the full DVD set for sure. RIP David Munrow...

[@karlthomas2360]

We miss you Daivd.

[@patriciayeiser6405]

Thanks to his early work with the Consort, we now have the effects of the period instrument (Historically Informed Performance) idea. I think all music should be played with instruments the composer would have recognized, with the same forces, seating plans, etc.It sounds so much more convincing. I too recall the announcement of his death.

[@therealzilch]

I was lucky enough to see David Munrow with his consort in Berkeley many years ago. An electrifying concert.

[@TiqueO6]

Just 'discovered' Mr Munrow, very appreciative of his legacy. Interesting side note: this instrument is used as a lead instrument in Cuba (in heavily percussive carnaval music) and there's it's called Trumpeta China. I'm watching the clip now so I don't know if he mentioned this.

[@gouldwani]

マンロウの演奏をはじめて見ました。感激･感動です。貴重な映像をありがとう！

[@mauvenumnum5320]

the last german song is very familiar to my ears its wierd. Very catchy too.

[@lilac_hem]

OOOOH PLAY THAT THING DAVID

[@Shalott63]

I loved these programs when I was young. So sadly missed!

[@stephenpink540]

thank you thank you for posting this. !

[@dronespace]

Super talented

[@dannyinaus]

The first song sounds a lot like an old album I had called Sonus: Songs & Dances of the Middle Ages - I love it!

[@Lancelottheknight]

***** That's an awesome medieval standard. It's called Saltarello and it has been covered by bands like Dead Can Dance, Corvus Corax, ...

[@dannyinaus]

Thanks Ivano! That is very helpful to know, especially the name cheers!

[@GrootsieTheDog]

***** Really check out the Dead Can Dance version.

[@Eeranisus]

Corvus Corax's version is really awesome too

[@nalunoa]

Thank you so much for posting this. Have always loved David Munrow's works and recordings.

[@finosuilleabhain7781]

What DM achieved in his short life is remarkable. That he was able to do it wearing a suit and tie is nothing short of staggering.

[@thepinkspidercompany]

this is fabulous.

[@paulwatson525]

I remember a TV series for schools called mistress of Hardwick where his consort group played all the Tudor music from the time of Bess of Hardwick .brought the whole Tudor era for me alive .that was me hooked brilliant show n music thank you .

[@paulwatson525]

Wish they would bring it back

[@avanm420]

What a treasure these videos are! Thank you

[@charmainepang]

What a virtuoso. Sad his talent has never been replaced. Much respect to David Munrow, RIP.

[@Alex1Newman]

Loved the regal!

[@thebeatcreeper]

So happy to find this! Incidentally the piece at the beginning was used in the film Brother Sun Sister Moon by Franco Zefferelli...

[@CasiodorodelaTeja]

I love this master.

[@alexno.335]

That man goes hard

[@TrailBlazer5280]

This guy goes nuts on these instruments lol

[@Kampfwageneer]

This dude rules

[@nullus000]

Preciso de mais documentários como este.

[@retinalcircus]

Saltarello! Dead Can Dance did a rendition of this

[@professorpepper]

Utterly splendid!

[@sapper82]

That 2nd tune took me back as it was used as the theme for his Pied Piper series on Radio 3 back in the early '70s.

[@lumberpilot]

I need a crumhorn right about now.

[@phillipecook3227]

I can still see the headline in the sunday paper: " Pied Piper Dead" .

[@seanhenry2921]

Marvelous. Thank you for posting.

[@JeremyPickett]

The world is is a much, much, much worse place without David Munrow.

[@sergiobonanni7311]

thank you so much for sharing this video.

[@Catastrofius]

oh my, can't he rock the double reed!

[@Alberad08]

That's just fascinating - thanks a lot for sharing!

[@forestweston5055]

Outstanding! To you, David 🍻

[@stevendurrant1724]

Just stumbled on this. Wow.

[@Atin_Belaur]

Oh my, this is very impressive!

[@Otterysteve]

Wonderful! Not heard of him before but love this!

[@SaxJockey]

Stephen, thank you for uploading this. I have several recordings by David Munrow (and ensembles), including introduction to instruments of the middle ages and renaissance, but have never seen this video. It's staggering how much enthusiasm and skill David had for early music. Think I will order the DVD of the 6 TV recordings in order to see more of this, and also the actual instruments he played. One of my favourite recordings is the Art of Courtly Love (double CD).

[@crado.v1]

6:12 Bagpipe sounds disappointed with itself... Great vid.

[@PaulusLXXX]

Muchas gracias por compartir este maravilloso material. Saludos

[@Otterysteve]

Wonderful!

[@zooblestyx]

Methinks many a monk found many a fellow monk "good for blowing".

[@jacksonguillory8114]

Lmao

[@ellenconyers8379]

So enlightening to hear these treasures. I'v heard some of them in movoed

[@geperstekop]

Great! thanks for sharing this

[@sadredinesmaily8283]

so amazing