Ted Watson Remembers...

I think readers may be interested in this. Ted Watson was contemporary to David Munrow, and knew him very well, and called him a super guy! The following of what he mainly recalls is here for all to see... I first met David Munrow in 1966 when I joined the Royal Shakespeare Company as a musician. He was a very fine bassoon player and as I was a clarinettist we generally sat together during performance. At that time the windband was based around a brass quartet (2 trumpets, horn and trombone) and a wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon) plus percussion. As a wind quintet we gave regular concerts both in the theatre and also outside venues. At this time David was acquiring the early music instruments and I regularly was called upon to play duets for clarinet and crumhorn, clarinet and rackett, clarinet and recorders various. As we played he would often stop to tune certain notes usually by sticking layers of paper into the vents. The playing of these instruments often required amazing energy and a powerful air stream, but David with his super intelligence and insuppressible enthusiasm soon became one of the leaders in the field. Every evening in the bandbox between music cues, he would write letters to music clubs, universities, music establishments and anyone who might be interested in hearing music of these early instruments. He was a pleasure to work with and appeared to find life exciting and joyful. Sometimes he would be telling a story of a particular event with such enthusiasm that he didn't realize he was putting on the wrong stage costume. Of course we never let on until we were on stage, As a human being he was generous and treated all people equally and it was a sad day when he eventually left the wind band due to the fact he was in great demand as an early music specialist. His unexpected and tragic early death was a shock to all who had come into contact with him and robbed the world of a great musical talent. It is a tribute to his excellence that he commands a following that has not diminished with the passing years.

« Last Edit: February 10, 2010, 10:26:37 am by piedpiper »