This annual event is a celebration of the baroque composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli, who wrote fabulous music to be performed in the famous Basilica of St Marks. 

The church has two choir lofts facing each other to create striking spatial effects.

Most of his pieces are written so that a choir or instrumental group will first be heard on one side, followed by a response from the musicians on the other side; often there was a third group situated on a stage near the main altar in the centre of the church. 

Other composers before and after Gabrieli, like Adriano Banchieri, also used this device but Gabrieli was the master.

Margaret Wright leads of the group, which is made up of more than 70 Canberra recorders from their combined advanced and intermediate orchestras.

Margaret organises this event and the Combined Recorder Day every year. 

While the venue for the event was a long way from the opulence of the Italo-Byzantine St Mark’s, the Canberra people gave the hall a bit of a St Mark’s feel by placing wall hangings and mediaeval banners around the walls.  

The players were separated into two matching choirs with stunning effect.

Music by other contemporaries of Gabrieli, Bach, Hassler and some contemporary composers made up a big programme. 

After six hours of sight-reading music and a three hour trip each way, there were some pretty tired flautists by the end of the day, but all are looking forward to doing it again next year.

The Milton Ulladulla U3A Recorder Ensemble will be giving its own concert this month at the Croobyar Road Uniting Church, Milton at 2pm on Friday, November 22. 

There will be a full programme of music from the Renaissance to the contemporary ranging from the entertaining to the sublime.  

If you have any preconceptions of recorders you might find them challenged.  

For more details contact Graham Lyons on 4456 4862 or grahamlyons@iinet.net.au.