REMU Home Page

The Recorders and Early Music Union is a society of supporters of performance of classical and older music and dance, and recorder playing of all kinds. We promote the use of instruments, techniques and interpretation appropriate to the composer's culture.

We are based in Wellington, New Zealand.

News and Upcoming Events

2017 event programme - Soirees and big blows Dates and venues are now confirmed
Strathean Weekend 2017 Bookings are very heavy. The 2017 Strathean weekend is planned for October 12th to October 15th 2017. The weekend will again start on Thursday evening and run through to Sunday afternoon.
Orpheus Recorder Boutique Week 2018 - Armidale NSW Australia This week is planned for January 7th to 12th, with two optional short courses before and after the main event. The focus for 2018 is ensemble playing. There is a great line-up of tutors, including our own Kamala Bain. Early bird registrations are now open.

REMU's Activities

Programme for 2017 Our plans for the coming months
Workshops with skilled New Zealand and international musicians
Residential weekends to enjoy music making in a friendly, relaxed environment
House concerts: See below for details of these small friendly, concerts
National festivals, like Recorder2006, are held about once every three years

Memorable Events

Big Blow event 14 August 2016 Gallery of photos taken during this event, which was well attended by children as well as REMU members.
Big Blow event 27 July 2014 Gallery of photos taken during this very enjoyable event
Concert with Wellington Chamber Orchestra 6 December, 2009 Photos from a concert at St Andrews on the Terrace.
In defence of the viola de gamba Photos from Robert Oliver's amusing concert.
The Feast of Fools 2009 For the third year running, the Feast of Fools featured the Renaissance Band.
Early music in Wellington Photos from Robert Oliver's talk, August 2009.
Strathean 2009Photos from Strathean 2009.
Strathean 2008 Some photos from a very successfull weekend tutored by our president Katrin Eickhorst-Squire.
The Feast of Fools 2008 Once again the Feast of Fools featured the Renaissance Band.
The Feast of Fools 2006 featured the Renaissance Band in the guise of "the Medieval Minstrels". Select this link to see some photos of the 2006 Feast.
Recorder 2006 Photographs from the Wellington Recorder 2006 festival
Flotenlustof Concert A concert of German music, September 2004

Roger's Thesis

Our past President has recently completed a Master of Music thesis titled: "Participating in the Classical Music World: Four Amateur Organisations and the Perspectives of their Members." Click the link to read the abstract and download chapters.

Information

REMU Library: Our library of magazines and music.
REMU Instruments: A few instruments available on loan.
Teachers: A list of Wellington recorder teachers.
Links to related sites Links to performers, manufacturers and retailers.
Join REMU Sign up as a REMU member
Contact REMU Postal and email addresses

Soirees

Recorder players and consorts get together about three times a year to play to one another and to our most enthusiastic friends. These are informal and often held in members' homes. We often make time for everyone to play something in one large choir. Check out the Programme Page from time to time to see what's coming up.

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Workshops

REMU organises workshops with guest tutors. A workshop may last a day or take two days over a weekend. Past workshop have been taught by David Coomber (Auckland), Aldo Abreu (Boston USA) and Zana Clarke (Armadale NSW). Check out the Programme Page from time to time to see what's coming up.

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Residential Weekends

Once or twice a year REMU has a fun weekend of relaxing and playing recorders (and often other instruments as well) in a large house in the country. This year we are planning to have a professional tutors to add a little focus ... but it still won't be all hard work!

Keep an eye on the Programme Page for latest information

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House Concerts

When an early music performer or recorder player visits Wellington REMU may organise a small concert. Or if our own professional players have programme to offer we may help them present it. A recent feature of REMU's programme was a concert by our members' consorts playing their best pieces.

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National Festivals

About every three years there is a national festival for recorder players in New Zealand. These festivals get many of our professional players and teachers together, with some international guests, for about five days intensive playing, workshops, concerts and other special activities such as recorder making and composition competitions.

Recorder Week '93 was held in Wellington with Evelyn Nallen, David Gordon, Brian Bonsor and John Turner.

Recorder Week '96 held in Upper Hutt featured Aldo Abreu, Robyn Mellor and Rodney Waterman .

Rehu Ma Tangi (Recorder Week '99) was held in Nelson. It had a bi-cultural stream, a commissioned work by Gareth Farr. Guest artists and tutors were the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet .

Winds Of Waitaha (Recorder Week '02) was held in Christchurch.

In 2006, REMU organised a festival at Queen Margaret College, Wellington. For some photos from this event, follow this link. Recorder 2006

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For more information contact

Recorders and Early Music Union
30 Meremere St, Wainuiomata
Lower Hutt,
New Zealand

Email REMU
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