Meetings in 2024-2025
Upcoming Meeting Dates
We meet monthly in-person on Saturdays at 2:00-4:30 pm, October-March. Our meetings are usually held in libraries in the Greater Seattle area, in the King County, Snohomish, and Seattle Public Library systems. The meeting locations will be announced as they become available. This year we will have two special guests, Larry Stark and Laura Kuhlman, joining Music Director Laura Townsend in leading the meetings.
For news about the annual Northwest Recorder Meet, April 15, 2025, see the the Northwest Recorder Meet/Workshops tab.
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2024-25 MONTHLY MEETING DATES:
We traditionally have a break with snacks and drinks in the middle of the meeting.
October 12, 2024, Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline.
November 9, 2024, Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace
December 14, 2024, Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline. This meeting will be led by guest director Larry Stark.
January 11, 2025, Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline.
February 15, 2025, Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline.
March 15, 2025, Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St., Shoreline, led by guest director Laura Kuhlman, Music Director of the Portland Recorder Society, and the Recorder Orchestra of Oregon.
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Director Laura Townsend’s March Meeting notes:
Get ready for a spring treat! We are fortunate to have the wonderful Laura Kuhlman joining us from Portland for our March meeting! Laura is the Music Director of the Portland Recorder Society and the Recorder Orchestra of Oregon, plays in several bands in the Portland area, and is a dynamic and energetic leader. You can find a more detailed bio on our website, since she’ll be back next month to lead a session at the Northwest Recorder Meet. Please join us on Saturday, March 15 (the THIRD Saturday this month) from 2-4:30pm at the Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th Street, Shoreline.
Laura is going to draw from 2 delightfully different topic areas for this meeting, described below:
“Da Pacem Domine”/ “Give peace in our days”:
Renaissance compositions set to the Latin text
We will explore settings of Renaissance vocal music set to the Latin text “Da Pacem Domine”, which translates to “Peace be with you”. “Da Pacem Domine” is a Latin text taken from Gregorian chant that has been the base for musical compositions inside or outside of the liturgy. Our time together will include polyphonic settings of this Latin text creating rich and beautiful textures with dramatic and expressive settings by some of the greatest composers of their time: Lassus, de Rore, Willaert, Agricola, Brumel, Verdelot, de la Rue, Festa, Sermisy and Gregorian Chants. Their compositions create a contemplative quality, with a focus on the spiritual and an introspective nature of the music.
The Klezmer Recorder Band
Ready to get your fingers jumping?! Well, welcome to the Klezmer Recorder Band. Klezmer music is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. As Klezmer music reached the United States, it was influenced by the traditions of American big bands and other popular music styles. We will explore some of the many styles of Klezmer playing and the tunes that were used for the various celebrations of Jewish life.
Music for the March meeting can be found here:
https://mossbayrecorders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MarchMusic.zip
This music is for the use and enjoyment of this particular meeting and may be protected by copyright. The music is for educational purposes only. Please do not distribute this music outside this meeting. Be sure to open both folders! You only need to print out the parts you want to play. Please let me know if you would like me to print music and bring it for you. A few extra copies will be available at each meeting.
Last month, we had an inspiring playing session with over 25 players joining together to create absolutely gorgeous, peaceful, tranquil and fun music on the theme of night. When we were playing the Japanese piece Kojo No Tsuki (Moonlight on the Castle Ruins), member Deb Kosche volunteered that she had written a haiku after visiting just such a place. She agreed to share it with you all:
Spooky shadows creep,
Blocking out the moonlight rays,
Shows the end of day.
It was a magic moment and her words really evoked the feeling of the music. Thank you, Deb!
I wanted to take a moment to clear up some confusion about our name and the name of the Meet. We are and will continue to be the Moss Bay Recorder Society, embracing our historic connection to our founder Winifred Jaeger and the bay in Kirkland near where early meetings took place. In order to acknowledge that the Seattle Recorder Society is joining us to present our annual one-day workshop, as well as to clarify the nature of the event, we are changing from the Moss Bay Meet to the Northwest Recorder Meet. We hope to encourage recorder players from all around the area to participate since it’s such a great opportunity to meet other players and experience three leaders in one day! We have session descriptions and instructor bios up on our website on the Northwest Recorder Meet/Workshops tab. Watch for a separate email about the event coming soon!
Laura Townsend
mbrsmem@gmail.com
Music Director, Moss Bay Recorder Society
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We are still looking for a communications volunteer. I am filling in until we find someone with just a little tech savvy and a knack for keeping everyone in the loop! Please let me know if you’re interested in learning more about it.
Laura Townsend
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In Person Health Protocols:
- Email Laura your intent to come and desired part, if known.
- No blowing mouthpiece condensation outward; “sucking” is OK!
- Please stay at home if you are coughing, feeling ill, or suspect you have been exposed to Covid or the flu.
Email Laura Townsend: mbrsmem@gmail.com
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2025 NORTHWEST RECORDER MEET
Saturday, April 19, 10am-5:00pm
Sand Point Community UMC — Perry Hall
4710 NE 70th St, Seattle
Schedule for the Day:
9:30 am Registration and set-up
10-11:45 Potpourri led by Peter Seibert
11:45-1 Bring or buy lunch (coffee and tea provided)
1-2:45 Tomás Luis Victoria/Klezmer led by Laura Kuhlman
2:45-3:15 Break
3:15-5 Girl Power! led by Laura Townsend
5-5:30 Clean-up and departure
$60 for all day or $25 for a single session
Please bring all of your recorders, compatible instruments, a music stand, a pencil, something for your lunch and, optionally, a snack to share. Pitch = 440
Presented by Moss Bay Recorder Society and Seattle Recorder Society
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to assist with planning. Email Laura Townsend at mbrsmem@gmail.com to pre-register,for the link to the music or with any questions. Payment not due until the day of the Meet. For more details see Northwest Recorder Meet/Workshops
We look forward to having you join us for a wonderful day of music making, fellowship and fun!
Download flyer: https://mossbayrecorders.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NW-Recorder-Meet-2025-Flyer.pdf
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