Rackett consort David Munrow

A consort of Renaissance racketts played by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London from the Reed Instruments episode of 'Early Musical Instruments'.
It is performed by the Early Music Consort of London, directed by David Munrow. It is from a UK TV series 'Early Musical Instruments', broadcast in 1976. It consisted of six half-hour episodes, each devoted to a family of instruments, this being from the Reed Instruments episode - others being Recorders & Whistles, Brass, Keyboard & Percussion, Plucked Strings and Bowed Strings.
The whole series of six episodes is available on a fully licensed DVD from: www.davidmunro...

[@formerastronaut]

"And here's some guys playing the Final Fantasy victory music on some pepper-grinders."

[@robertwilson123]

David Munrow who took his own life at the age of 33 in 1976, made the outstanding contribution to understanding and recording early music of his age. David brought a lost musical medieval past to life...a past which is the basis of all current European music. His collection of instruments went to the Royal Academy of Music and he was recognised when NASA Voyager took a recording of an early music galliard into space for eternity.

[@brendancoburn427]

I remember being watching his programmes on the Open University, when I was a young teenager. He triggered an interest in me for Early Music, and I have never forgotten him.

[@ZacHawkins42]

Selfish prick, I hope his family found some closure.

[@art2liv4]

Sad, but thanks for the lovely racketts.

[@dgolfere-wgt5194]

any idea why he done that?

[@art2liv4]

@@dgolfere-wgt5194 Why does anyone? Bio on Wikipedia.

[@MattSuguisAsFondAsEverrr]

when you upgrade the kazoo to an actual woodwind

[@Macvriendin]

I think it's not a kazoo, al though the sound is quite similar. In a kazoo you have to sing yourself on 'huh' sound to make a melody. This racket has finger holes that create the melodies.

[@Microtonal_Cats]

I was going to go to sleep but now that I've heard 4 guys playing lute music on duck calls, I have questions.

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

They do sound better -- and dress better than the Duck Dynasty guys.

[@charliespinoza1966]

That is a devastatingly succinct description 😆

[@homestead.smallholding]

The preview of your comment said "I have a quest.."

[@yorganyog]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 I don't agree but your comment is the best and undertstandable 😂😂😂😂😂

[@epikur394]

If you want to lure ducks, this is your instrument of choice😂

[@rickwilliams967]

Right? Not sure what people are enjoying about this.

[@currysues]

@@rickwilliams967lol, a singing duck quartet?

[@hansleeuw2840]

@@rickwilliams967 It is quite a distinctive sound wouldn't you agree? I always enjoy hearing new sounds.

[@NathanEllisBodi]

Only Tudor ducks though. It's like a Chanter that's gone through puberty.

[@oldboy9267]

it has a pleasantly unique, warm tone@@rickwilliams967

[@saggerhead]

To me, this sound is sublime. I wish rackett consorts were as common as Starbucks

[@antippas]

I wish Starbucks were as common as racket consorts.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

That's definitely the best sentence I've read all year.

[@MA-naconitor]

Then you wouldn't want to live in Andorra

[@TalkingWeirdStuff24]

@@antippas Maybe we can get a trade going? With who or what I don't know, but there must be something out there that can strike this deal!

[@ian.mikyska.94]

@@MA-naconitor What's the Andorra connection?

[@АнтонМан-ч9к]

My old printer does sounds like this

[@mason11198]

how much to buy it off you LOL

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

My first wife used to fart like that.

[@alphabeets]

😂😂

[@germansnowman]

In that case, I recommend the Device Orchestra channel.

[@johnsrabe]

I think they’re playing Henry the Eighth notes. Thanks. I’m here all weeke.

[@andro4384]

all weeke 😂😭🙈😩

[@nmbygodsgrace]

Stellar comment! Thanks man…I needed the laugh!

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

remember to tip your waiters

[@johnsrabe]

@@GuitarUniverse2013 Mine scroll is for sale in the gifte lobbye.

[@terryreknaw6152]

😂👍👍

[@Pocketfarmer1]

As a child ,being noisy and boisterous, my mother would occasionally say ,” stop that awful racket.” Little did we know it was an instrument! Much like bombardment came from bombards before canons existed .

[@barrypoupard7009]

A very dense sound. Well now we know the origin of the "making a racket expression".

[@Microtonal_Cats]

I've listened to this video about 10 times today since I found it. Lovely on its own. Also would be a great fanfare for the entrance of a drunken king in a Woody Allen movie.

[@rickwilliams967]

Lovely is a strong word.

[@hansleeuw2840]

@@rickwilliams967 What is it with all the haters of that instrument's sound? Lovely is a subjective term. It is not on you what another person's subjective appreciation is, especially regarding a sound so clearly removed from the main stream. I personally like the large number of overtones without the nasality that a hobo can have giving it a strong emphasis on the consonant chords that are played.

[@oscah_whisky]

When they went into compound time, I really started groovin'!!!😄

[@TalkingWeirdStuff24]

I didn't know a Rackett was an instrument until about 5 minutes ago when I had this video recommended while searching for videos of Bass Shawm music (y'know, like you do on a Saturday night at 9pm), and I am already very fond of the Rackett. Pretty song and it was nice to see a whole quartet: just watching their differences in posture was interesting. Also, this good man uses the word sepulchral: these are the kinds of videos I live for, truly.

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

A.K.A. "The Sausage Bassoon."

[@synthdude]

0:39 I believe that's Alan Lumsden. He was one of my lecturers at Middlesex University years ago. Top bloke, into Early Music big time. I think he was in the London Serpent Trio.... Didn't appreciate it at the time, glad he's preserved here 😎

[@russbetts1467]

Nice to see David Munrow again. I saw him in London, shortly before he died. Such a waste of an amazing musician.

[@johnwaine2332]

I too saw David Munrow at a concert in London shortly before his death.

[@nathanielsnyder7396]

surely tragic on some level to lose someone so young in that fashion, but how could anyone who has seen this series-especially someone who saw him play in person-call it a waste. he gave what it was he had to give, and it’s still enriching lives to this day. hardly a waste.

[@stephenrivera4382]

I just LOVE the sound of Racketts and Crumhorns!

[@sapper82]

I used to love David Munrow's Pied Piper back in the early '70s. A huge loss to the musical life of our country.

[@GuildensternTube]

for the world

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

​@@GuildensternTubeYes, for the world. I am from the Netherlands and I was a huge fan! Still am, come to think of it.

[@skulengu6854]

It sounds to me like a baritone kazoo. But admittedly, I sort of like it for it’s oddness.

[@randomexcessmemories4452]

I simply adore the sound of a rackett, and these medieval musical instruments are so incredible to hear!

[@theusher2893]

Can we take a moment to appreciate their astounding coordination

[@Thrillrider10]

It sounds a little bit like the crumhorn, but with a much fuller tone. Very unique sound.

[@michaeldeloatch7461]

Never was more aptly named any instrument on this planet. 😆 (Spoken as a lifelong David Munrow fan BTW.)

[@shellyspiano]

LOVE it - Thank you. I had the privilege of meeting David Munrow when he came with the Early Music Consort to Kingston Art College (UK) where I was studying, in about 1970. James Bowman was one of their number - his lovely deep speaking voice the opposite of his sublime counter-tenor one. He is still one of the best, in my opinion (and he sadly left us last year). Munrow was lovely and it is believed the loss of his father was a contributory factor to his suicide. Tragic.

[@LMB2301]

So sad to hear about James Bowman. I saw him in concert many years ago, he had a sublime voice! I still listen to recordings of him. May he and David Munrow rest in peace.

[@shellyspiano]

@@LMB2301 For me, James Bowman's voice is still one of the very best of the counter tenors.

[@annabelwaterfield6108]

James was wonderful, both as a singer and as a person. Everyone's got a James story, and they're all nice.

[@shellyspiano]

@@annabelwaterfield6108 Indeed☺

[@iwokeupthismorning2]

Sounds a bit like heavy metal guitars, or I guess that’s the other way around 😅. Seriously this video is super interesting, a gem to have people gathered together to beautifully share this music. And so well executed. A time machine somehow

[@swamihuman9395]

- Those guys made quite the rackett! :D

[@rubenskiii]

This is important. Very important. I need 5 hours of this. _My Lord, be it thy i heareth?_

[@rubenskiii]

I keep coming back to this ever since i discovered it!

[@romanninjaprincess4477]

Yeah imma be sharing this with people, this is an awesome instrument

[@jacktar9567]

love the Rackett & all early music.... RIP David....a sad loss to us all❤

[@adrianrosenlund-hudson8789]

What a wonderful sound

[@theoriginalchefboyoboy6025]

I saw these guys play during The Summer of Love at the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople. Great show, great acid test...

[@michelnagumaqmorton]

Awesome ! thank you , I make flutes for over 27 years and its the first time I see and or hear these , wow !

[@DeadKoby]

Fun.... I wasn't expecting it to sound that cool.

[@therandomchannel9373]

Literally listening to this on repeat

[@JuliaGarbe1]

One of the best videos on KZbin

[@Luqmaninbmore]

I got to play one of these for a semester in college. Didn't get a chance to perform with it, though.

[@OrionAerospaceKSP]

What a rackett!

[@jochanaan58]

You beat me to it! 😁

[@CanisCalligulis]

What a surprising delight these rackets are! Nice sound!

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

i love the piece

[@Dulcian_14]

The Rackett Is My Favorite Instrument

[@NoahSpurrier]

I must be ignorant. I’ve never heard of these instruments. Amazing.

[@Sp3ktral22]

I would love to hear a Drum and Bass flip on this! Now that would be sublime.

[@robertbate5790]

I cant say I've heard of the instrument, but the sound is quite familiar. Used a lot in medieval music to films etc.

[@marcusantimony7535]

Awesome! A medieval kazoo!

[@Natalieforpope]

I've a vinyl of The Medieval Sound he recorded and i was always fascinated by the strange sounds on it. I do collect some strange instruments now which it might explain! I'd no idea he died in such sad circumstances, he was a good chap.

[@darrenhirst9900]

It sounds like the kazoo I love the sound.

[@joe1hundred]

we making it out of the dark ages with this one! 🔥

[@SatanSitting]

That's the best stuff I've ever seen!!! Or heard or whatever...

[@DarinK]

Interesting instrument. I've found a new ringtone!

[@PlatinumSurfer]

Astonishing how much pressure this tiny instrument can produce.

[@DougYeager]

My mom had one when I was a kid - I remember it as slightly larger. Fun To play

[@Fooma777]

That tempo change goes so hard

[@JuliaCCCP]

It kinda sounds like a regal. I love it

[@nickjanczak9665]

Medieval kazoos!

[@harryjoseph1802]

A genius...was David Munrow and his Early Music Consort of London? One of the best Ensembles

[@rodneymcgovern5984]

He was a genius, for his versatility on wind instruments from all parts of the world and from all ages. I still remember his programmes, called Pied Piper and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, very fondly even now 48 years later!

[@anapaulamendozadiaz8890]

Love how it sounds

[@cz2681]

Every time they get together, those guys make a rackett

[@tomaso5537]

a truly versatile tool, no doubt about it

[@tom_something]

Reminds me of the music from old PC games.

[@pitodesign]

I can't help myself, but these distinguished men in their stiff 1970ish suits with checkered neckties, then that sound like a choir of ducks - it has comedic potential. :-D

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

FABULOUS

[@simongross3122]

Brilliant! Where can I get some?

[@TschimmiCash]

Great! Thank you!

[@davivify]

Lovely, um, Rackett. How did we not know about this, essentially, double bass kazoo?

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

In a book on making wind instrument ther was a plan for one of these. I didn't construct it, but now I know how it sounds.

[@CJ4S147]

These chaps are making quite the racket and one wonders if there is any correlation between the figure of speech and the instrument. One of the coolest and most useless bits of new information I’ve gotten in a while is exactly what this auditory cross between a bagpipe and a coronet actually is.

[@francescobasta4725]

Could the gentleman with the black jacket by Andrew van der Beek, whom I met at the Lacock seminars he used to organize in the 1990’s ?

[@marcbrasse747]

Now we know where the saying comes from!

[@confuseatronica]

i love them for lots of reasons but they're just so cool because of how compact they are- they're like a musical instrument invented by an engineer, not a musician, and they have all kinds of neat benefits: compact, durable, the soundholes are close together, even on the big ones. The lower a crumhorn is, you start getting all these extended keys until the thing looks like an oboe or a saxiphone. Racketts, the holes just spread out sideways as the thing gets lower :P

[@vladimirdovgan9387]

В этой музыке прекрасно всё!

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

I thought on my rock 'n' roll musicians took their own lives but this is really sad… I find these oddball instruments fascinating. These rackets sound like someone playing music in unison through a very large comb.

[@blxtothis]

What a Rackett!

[@virtuosomaximoso1]

Music professor slams open the door. What is all this racket? Looks around, ohh never mind.

[@lukehebert6207]

This is what an Egyptian house cat monarch hears when walking into the throne room

[@simondalton3726]

I guess we know where the expression ‘what a racket!’ comes from, now

[@christophmunch4796]

Hilarious! How they make these sounds totally seriously! Could be out of a comedy show. Adding to this impression is the repetitiveness of the piece and that they go into sort of a "swing" feel at the end (which sounds as if they try to swing but fail)!

[@jamiehobbs3750]

Incredible!

[@bendenisereedy7865]

Listen to a 70s British band called Gryphon if you like this sound.

[@MrShoryuken1]

Well, now I know what instrument they used in the old BBC Hobbit radio production...

[@yorganyog]

I love the sound and melody. I woukd to design and 3d print some and be advised also. Who could help me?

[@colew9330]

I guess you could say these guys were making a racket!

[@gepmrk]

Now this, is a sound.

[@Londonfogey]

Bloke on the right looks like a young Bill Nighy, before he wore specs.

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

Damn, these guys can give Duck Dynasty a run for their money.

[@petezah2686]

Reminds me of the soundtrack from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles on Nintendo GameCube.

[@williamwalls9768]

I bet it sound good good live

[@EC-xc9gy]

PDQ Bach kazoos.... were accurate sounds?? Was there a bike whistle, too!?

[@Steven.T.Y.]

They're playing giant multiphonic duck calls...

[@a.abeyta6237]

Crazy rolling pin.

[@awesomenesssquash]

this shit slaps

[@einsam_aber_frei]

It swims like a duck, it quacks like a duck, it is a duck!

[@666toysoldier]

Eventually, someone discovered you could get the same sound with a comb and tissue paper.

[@jddrew1000]

Ohhhhhh so THAT'S what that sound is. I've heard it in Renaissance recordings but couldn't figure out what it was. Never cared for it lol

[@AlexHamlinMusic]

1:23 it starts to get real greasy.

[@forveillelier]

What?

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

​@@forveillelierI think he means that's when it really kicks in

[@aleksanderweiss6835]

@@forveillelier I think he means that's when they really bring the mustard

[@forveillelier]

@@aleksanderweiss6835 the best part

[@CriticalofOnions]

This is the part where the drums would play half time and people start slamdancing methinks

[@JuliaGarbe1]

Hi David, I would love to watch the full series, but the DVD is out of stock. Do you have the full version or know where we could find it? What incredible content, I would love to learn more!

[@gumse666]

Better times.

[@kufitop]

I can't sleep with all that rackett! 😏

[@samucam7589]

Imagine being beheaded in for stealing a chicken in medieval times and this is the last thing you hear

[@martyheresniak5203]

David Munrow, such a loss. It was a time of suits and ties. Ah, those were the days.

[@tHYRR3N]

It sound almost like something out of modern house music

[@reggiep75]

Could do with a brass horn on the end to project that raspy sound.