David Munrow Remembered 50 Years After Suicide

Fifty years after his tragic suicide at the age of 33, David Munrow, a trailblazer in early music, is celebrated for elevating a specialized genre into mainstream appeal. His debut performance at Wigmore Hall in London with the Early Music Consort in March 1968 captivated audiences with instruments such as the shawm, crumhorn, and rackett. Munrow's passion for early music was showcased on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television, where he adapted Tudor compositions for productions like The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R. Born in Birmingham in 1942, he studied English at Cambridge, where musicologist Thurston Dart introduced him to the crumhorn. He later played bassoon for the Royal Shakespeare Company under Guy Woolfenden. His Early Music Consort included countertenor James Bowman. Musicians like William Lyons of the Dufay Collective and Skip Sempé of Capriccio Stravagante recognize his impact. His recordings continue to be accessible, and Edward Blakeman's new book, The Artistry of David Munrow: Pied Piper of Early Music, will be released by Oxford University Press. A comprehensive 21-CD collection, The Art of David Munrow: The Complete Warner Edition, is set to launch on 15 May.