From Court Ayres — March
- Learn a Baroque ceremonial march on the recorder.
- Maintain a strict pulse for processional music.
About This Piece
Source: Court Ayres (London, late 17th century)
Time Signature: 4/4
Key: D Major
Full Piece
A ceremonial march in D major. The pulse must be strict; the dancers would lose step if the tempo wandered.
Practice Tips
- Tempo: Quarter = 96. March pace.
- Articulation: Every quarter note tongued separately. No slurring; the march wants clarity.
- Pulse: Use a metronome on every practice. If your unaccompanied tempo drifts, the metronome will tell you.
Historical Context
Late seventeenth-century English court music included ceremonial marches for processions, military exercises, and royal entrances. The recorder was a standard instrument in these contexts; recorder consorts often played alongside trumpets and drums. Court Ayres collections preserved many of these pieces in instrumental versions playable at home.
Performance Goal: A pulse that does not waver. The march should feel like marching.
Next Steps
- Add a second voice (any friend with another recorder) for a march duet.
- Try the same strict-pulse approach to a Baroque dance suite movement.