I used to play in the Monroe Consort with three other musicians, all of which were extremely advanced players. I was the only student; the rest were faculty. It was a great honor--and quite a challenge to "keep up" with them musically. Many many years ago...
Playing recorder in groups was a wonderful experience. I have lost most of my recorder skills; at that time (mid-80's) I was far more advanced on recorder than I am with Irish music now. When I left college, for years I didn't touch a flute, or recorder, or darn near any instrument...which I deeply regret, as it was to the vast detriment of my abilities.
At any rate, my post was not serious; I was simply extending Jim's joke comparing playing the recorder to other "solitary pursuits."
The good news is I find Irish music every bit as satisfying as early music and HIP. There is a deep satisfaction to playing this music, and it is an addiction: once you start there's no going back.
I do sometimes miss those soaring, open, ethereal harmonies of the High Renaissance, though.
So...one of the first things we did when we put the band together was break one of the "rules" and start developing melodic harmonies for our arrangements of slow pieces...hence the "Arran Boat" recording that folks still sometimes email me about.
--James
