ANCIENT INSTRUMENTS REVIVED
URING the past 150 years, antiquarians have taken old instruments) from museums, examined their construction and endeavoured to play them, with varying degrees of success. No complete study of these instruments was made until 1903, when Arnold Dolmetsch began his researches. In 1918-19, Dolmetsch produced his first modern recorders, and in 1925 at Haslemere Hall, where festivals are held each year for the presentation of music played by the old instruments, the first modern consort of recorders, with bass, was heard. Works by Bach, Handel, Purcell and other composers could now be performed with the instruments for which they were originally written. The return to popularity of these instruments is, to speak fairly, still a controversial question. However, Zillah Castle, whom The Listener interviewed the other day, is quite sure that they have a great musical future. Miss Castle, when she was studying at the Royal College of Music in London, became interested in the instruments, with the result that, on her return to this country, she and her brother, Ronald Castle, presented music played upon virginals, re-
corders and an Aegidius Kloz violin dated 1763. They recently received letters from Wanda. Landowska, and John
Ticehurst, famous harpsichord virtuosi, and from the Dolmetsch family. They have had recorders sent out from England, and a Kirkman harpsichord, dated 1781, is to come. Miss Castle mentioned that in any period plays in England, and also for folkdancing, the period instruments are always used. She says: "I am convinced that these instruments will become part of our national life as they were in England and on the Continent from the 16th to 19th centuries. The music of the Bach Family will be presented by Zillah and Ronald Castle, played on instruments of the period, from the Exhibition ~studio at 8.29 p.m. on Tuesday, Novem-
ber 14. [his will be a unique occasion, as it is the first performance in this country of the items on these instruments.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 20, 10 November 1939, Page 23
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327ANCIENT INSTRUMENTS REVIVED New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 20, 10 November 1939, Page 23
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