The Kent Branch, which was formed in 1986, meets in Maidstone and has worked with Marion Scott as Musical Director since 2008. We are a small and friendly group and play a variety of music of all styles and periods, from medieval, Renaissance and Baroque to jazz and contemporary, so there is never a dull moment. We meet weekly. The Kent Branch warmly welcomes new adult recorder players of all abilities who are reasonably competent sight-readers and you would be welcome to come to one or two meetings as a visitor before making a commitment to join. Visitors are offered one free trial session after which visitor fees will be £10 per session.

Kent Branch Concert at All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph, 2014
Kent Branch Concert at All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph, 2014

Marion studied recorder, oboe, baroque oboe and piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has since performed and recorded with the leading early music specialist orchestras, including English Baroque Soloists with John Eliot Garner, Academy of Ancient Music, English Concert, The Sixteen and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She has been fortunate to perform as a recorder player across the world, from USA and Mexico, to Paris, Rome, Madrid and Argentina. Marion also plays recorder for contemporary compositions, with ensembles such as London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Marion has enjoyed teaching at all levels and ages, from beginner to tertiary and beyond. She worked in her local schools in Kent as part of the management team for Kent Music, as well as in both the Junior and Senior Schools of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as Professor of Recorder. She was also a Professor at Trinity College of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music, and was Head of the Recorder Department at the Centre for Young Musicians. Marion was a founding Committee member and tutor for NYRO, and founded the London Youth Recorder Orchestra. She gives Masterclasses and Workshops, and has taught on a variety of courses and Summer Schools, including as a Director of the Recorder Summer School, Easter Early Music Course and the Irish Recorder and Viol Course. Alongside that teaching, she worked as a generalist examiner for Trinity College London.

In Kent, Marion directs the Kent Branch of the Society of Recorder Players, and she conducts her own Recorder Chamber Orchestra. Although now partly retired, she maintains regular private teaching and conducting work, but has stopped professional playing and examining. Retirement means time to go in different directions, including studying garden design and continuing work on her own garden, and few belonging to other people; more weaving, travel, and experimental cooking! Life is full, but always, always with music at the core.

Meetings usually take place weekly on Tuesday evenings from September to April inclusive, starting at 19.30 and finishing at 21.30. We don’t meet at school half terms. Current dates are available to Kent Branch members in the Newsletter. Please ring any Committee member for confirmation if you are coming for the first time. Contact details can be found on the “Contacts” tab.

The venue is The Vine, Maidstone – see the Venue Page for further details.

A newsletter is produced once a year, giving details of dates of meetings and venue, etc. This is sent to Kent Branch members by email during the summer months.

The current subscription is £70 per term for the Autumn and Spring terms (total of 20 meetings) payable at the first meeting. There is a reduction for students.  In addition, the annual subscription to the SRP is £30.00.  If you are under 30 or a full-time student it is £10.

Membership of the SRP provides four issues of the national Recorder Magazine which has a wide range of articles relating to the recorder including details of playing days, courses, concert and music reviews and a copy of the SRP Membership List. This is regularly updated and includes details of members of all branches, indicating those who are teacher and those who wish to undertake one-to-a-part playing. This list is provided as part of the subscription and is only available to SRP members.

Hindemith, P.

 3 American Folksongs a 3                                  

SAT

Palestrina,

Exultate deo

SATTB

Shannon, G.

Bloomberg Codex

SATB

Faure, G.

Pie Jesu

SSATTB

Lane, C.

Air a 5 (RMM)

SAATB

Frescobaldi, G.

Bergamasca

SATB

Shannon, G.

Bloomberg Codex

SATB

Bach, J.S.

Prelude XII

SAB

Bononcini,

First Suite a 6/7

SSAATBCb

Shannon, G.

Albion’s Elixir

ATTB

Brown, C.

Gentle Voyager

SATB

   

  

Silcocks, E.

The Garbsen Jig

SATTBGbGbC

Bach, J.S.

Fugue XII

SAB

Bononcini, 

Second Suite a 6/7

SSAATBCb

Breen, C.

St. Margeret’s Suite

SAT

Bach, J.S.

Fugue XII

SAB

Bononcini, G.

Second Suite

SSAATBCb

Frescobaldi, G.

Bergamasca

SATB

Grillo, G.B.

Canzon Seconda a 8

SSS/A8T TTBGb

Harvey, R.

Suite no. 1

SATTB

     
     

Marshall, S.                      Fantasia No.3                                       AATTB

Holst, G.                            Ave Maria                                           AATTTTBB

Peurl, P.                             Canzona I                                            SSATB

Peurl, P.                             Canzona II                                           SSATB

Rodgers, R                        Blue Moon                                           TTBBGbCb

MacDowell                       Wild Narcissus                                     SATB

Albeniz, I.                         Tango                                                    SATB/TBGbCb

Beutler                              Chips ‘n’ Chocolate                               ATB

Handel, G.F.                   Aria e Variatio                                          ATB

Johnson, H.                     Puttin’ on the Ritz                                    SATB

Webber, W.L.                 Suite for Recorders/Pipes                          SATB

Johnson, H.                     Ice cream                                                  SATB

Handel, G.F.                   Music for the Royal Fireworks                   SAATTBBGb

Dufay, G.                          Ave Regina Coelorum                            ATTB

Willaert, A.                      Fantasia a 4                                              SATB

Wynne, N.                       Jolly Joan’s Fugue (RMM)                       SATB

 

Challinger, Andrew – No. 3 from 5 Sketches (SATB)

East, Michael – Songs Full of Spirit and Delight (unbarred!) (TTB)

Handel, G.F. – He Shall Feed His Flock like a Shepherd (AAATBCb)

Robinson, Rosemary – Dunholm Suite (SATTBB)
(Written for Berenice Styles!)

Handel, G.F. – Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No.1 (AAAATBCb)

Trad. arr. Peter Hope & B. Styles – Bonny at Morn (ATBBGb)

Bach, J.S. – Prelude XXII and Fugue XIV (SAB)

Trad. arr. Hall, Marg – South American Dances a 4

Christmas Special – 11th December 2019

With guests from local U3A groups, Weald of Kent SRP and a visitor from Edinburgh:

Vivaldi, A – Et in Terra Pax a 8

Palestrina, G.P. de, arr. MS – O beata et benedicta et gloriosa Trinitas (SSATB/TTBGbCb)

Trad. Arr. Campo, P – Foggy Dew (AATB)

Handel, G. F – Pastoral Symphony from The Messiah a 3

Trad. Carol – Silent Night a 4

Trad, arr. Wilcocks and Burchette – O come, all ye faithful

Trad. Arr. Richards, P. – Deck the Halls a 4

Trad. arr. Helen Hooker – Polish Suite

Couperin, Louis – Fantasie

Malvezzi, Cristoforo – 2 Sinfonie (1589)

Bach, J.S. – Sheep May Safely Graze

Taverner, John – Sanctus a 3

Scarlatti, Domenico – Sinfonia No. 1

Ager, Michael – Ain’t She Sweet

Brahms, Johannes – Hungarian Dance no. 1

Cazzati, Maurizio – 2 Simphonie a 4

Schutz, Heinrich – Jauchzet dem Herren

Handel, G.F. – Concerto Op.6, No. 3

Monteverdi, Claudio – Cantate Domine a 6

Double Pleasure – Sylvia Rosin

Fantasia a 6 No 4 – Martin Peerson (arr Alex Ayre)

Prelude and Fugue No. 2 – Glen Shannon

Vraho Vraho – Mikis Theodorakis

If Ye Love Me – Thomas Tallis

Take Five – Paul Desmond

Die Wassermusik – G F Handel

Sicut cervus – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Farewell to Stromness – Peter Maxwell Davis

Das ist meine Freude – Johann Ludwig Bach

Sinfonia No. 3 – Johann Christian Bach

Triosonata “La Rosetta” – Legrenzi

Medieval Motley – 14th Century Italian arr P Richards

Our most recent concert took place during April in our rehearsal venue, The Vine, Maidstone. Our repertoire included:

Glen Shannon – Prelude and Fugue No 2. in D minor

Thomas Tomkins – Fantasia No. 3 a 6

Traditional (Irish) – She moved through the Fair

Hans Gal – Divertimento 1 and 11 for three recorders

JS Bach – Prelude from Partita no 3 in E Major BWV 1006

Eileen Silcocks – West Country Suite

Heinrich Isaac – A la battaglia

GF Handel – Passacaille in G Minor, HWV 432

Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto in C minor RV 120

Gustav Holst – I love my love (arranged by Marion Scott)

Paul Richards – Scarborough Finck

A varied programme of choral and recorder pieces throughout the ages, including:

Anonymous – Hanacpachap Cussicuinin (jointly with the Wealden Consort Choir)

Legrenzi – Sonata Fugazzi

Schein – Suite No. 11

Anonymous – Pavane and Variations

Peerson – Fantasia a 6 no.1

Schutz – Jauchzet den Herren (jointly with the Wealden Consort Choir)

Maute – Tanto-Quanto

Gershwin – Embraceable you

Rodgers – Blue Moon

Martin Pearson – Fantasia “Beauty”.

Benjamin Thorn – 3 Cantigas.

John Dowland – Lachrymae Pavan: Amantis.

John Dowland – Sir John Souch his Galliard and Mrs Nichols Almand.

Antonio Lotti – Crucifixus.

Godfried Keller – Trio Sonata in D minor.

Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto in A minor .

Guus Haverkate – Take Four.

Vittorio Monti – Csardas.

Sokoll – A Journey around the World: South America, China, Spain.

Bratton/Kennedy – Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

George Gershwin – Singing in the Rain.

We gave two concerts in 2013: 16th March in St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Headcorn, with the Headcorn School Choir and Headcorn Handbell Ringers; 26th March St. James Church in East Malling, as part of the Malling Concert Society. Soloists were members of the ensemble, with guest artists Jane Jones (soprano) and Rick Jones (lute).

A concert of early music for Broadstairs Music Recital Society, York Street Methodist Church on Sunday 26th February at 3.00pm, with with Duo Toccante – Jo Hardwick and Marion Scott, recorders – and Coastal Voices:

Giovanni Gabrieli – Canzon Prima “La Spiritata”

Henry Purcell – Fantasie in G minor

Schein – Canzona a 6

William Byrd – Earle of Salisbury’s Pavana and Galliardo.

Arcangelo Corelli – Trio in D minor, Sonata da Chiesa op.3 no. 5.

J.S. Bach – Motet “Lobet den Herren”

We also gave a concert on 28 April in Thurnham Church, shared with Baroque Stop! Orchestra and Bearsted Choir, featuring a performance of Gloria in D by Vivaldi, conducted by Marion Scott.

Please contact any of the following people for further information:

Secretary Helen Embley 01634 389331

Treasurer Wendy Wood 01277 769829

Musical Director Marion Scott 07947 131124

Last updated 26 January 2025