I have fond memories of sharing this recording with friends at a small gathering in Oberlin one year. The piece starts with recorder and pluckery; things seem within a Renaissance sound-world and pleasant. However, wait for the shawm to enter into the fray a little after halfway in the recording. Unabashed and sounding of flatulence, the shawm entrance is full of character and hard to miss. This recording is a humorous crowd-pleaser and a didactic way to introduce the instrument’s timbre to new listeners.
