Palisander Recorder Quartet

Journey to the New World

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Palisander Recorder Quartet

This programme is inspired by voyages to the New World by Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. It centers on themes of Renaissance exploration and discovery, with musical illustrations of the men’s journeys to the New World.

The chosen repertoire balances music of the explorers’ native courts performed on historically authentic instruments, with pieces inspired by the sea, explorations into the music of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and pieces inspired by the conflicts that arose as Anglo-Spanish relations soured. Whilst the ideas are drawn from the Age of Exploration, the music is not restricted to a single time frame, as the programme features repertoire that spans more than 500 years: ranging from Thomas Tallis to Vivaldi to Vaughan Williams.

Alongside pieces that were originally conceived for recorders and pipes, much of the repertoire has been specially arranged, written or reconstructed by Palisander for recorder quartet.

The ensemble will showcase a large range of recorders both Renaissance and Baroque in design.

Palisander Recorder Quartet

Palisander prides itself on presenting imaginative, historical programmes with a wide range of repertoire; performing largely from memory, on recorders up to 6 feet tall. Graduates of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Palisander has quickly established itself as a vibrant young ensemble. The quartet is delighted to have been selected for the prestigious St John’s Smith Square Young Artists’ scheme 2016-2017. Last year, the group was selected for Brighton Early Music Festival’s ‘Early Music Live!’ scheme; ‘the leading training and apprenticeship scheme for young early music ensembles’. Winners of the June Emerson Launchpad Prize for chamber groups, the group has performed at the Royal Greenwich International Early Music Festival, Newbury Spring Festival and Handel and Hendrix in London. Palisander’s international performances include the Open Recorder Days festival, Amsterdam and the Tel Aviv International Early Music Seminar. The quartet has performed at contemporary music venues, on occasions with dancers and actors and at the Wallace Collection, for London Fashion Week. Palisander has featured on radio, including BBC Radio 3.

Palisander's new children's show, Dr Dee's Daughter and the Philosopher's Stone, is a collaboration with theatre and puppetry company Rust and Stardust. The project will tour in 2017, with support from the Arts Council England.