David Munrow
(1942-76)
As one of the most dynamic and influential figures in the early music movement of the 1960s and 1970s, British musician and early music historian David Munrow (1942-1976) deserves to be more celebrated.
Already remarkable in childhood for his zeal and ability to take up and play almost any musical instrument, Munrow studied English at Cambridge before turning to mediaeval and renaissance music as both the focus of his academic interest and his livelihood.
With the formation of the Early Music Consort of London and the rapidly growing interest of both the BBC and major record companies in his work, Munrow became a household name.
My interest
As a young man already immersed in classical music-making (both as a singer and flautist) I was shocked to hear of Munrow’s death in 1976. I soon acquired Munrow’s box set The Art of the Recorder and his recording of two of Purcell’s birthday odes for Queen Mary. Munrow and colleagues had been engaged for four BBC Prom concerts in the 1976 season; and while I was proud that the conductor of my university chamber choir had been asked to step in for one of these, it was inevitably a poignant occasion for both audience and performers.
​​David Munrow left us some 50 gramophone recordings - still in the vinyl era - and over 600 programmes for the BBC in the ‘Pied Piper’ series; made for children but with a big adult audience too.
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​Plans for 2026 – the 50th anniversary of Munrow’s death
It is good to know that the Royal Academy of Music will be marking this event – not least because the Academy holds a sizeable collection of David Munrow’s instruments and writings.
There is definitely scope to honour Munrow’s life and work in many ways, and I would love to hear from individuals and organisations planning to designate a concert or other event in 2026 in memory of this great and still much-missed musical figure.