Michael & Doreen Muskett “The Early Music Duo”

Michael and Doreen dedicated their lives too early music and have given concerts and workshops across the UK, on London’s South Bank and in hundreds of schools, as well as in Europe and America. Their interest and knowledge grew through continuous research as they travelled through many countries in Europe, initially to France, Spain and Yugoslavia, listening to local traditional instruments and their makers, seeking out medieval carvings of musicians and instruments (eg. Santiago de Compostella). They were avid collectors of instruments from wherever they were travelling or performing, gradually adding to their own fascinating collection of instruments, part of which we are fortunate to share with you at this unique Musical Instrument Auction. 

The wonderful richness and variety of sounds produced by many instruments used in Europe for a thousand years might have been lost were it not for the revival of interest in Early Music. Players have encouraged makers to reconstruct old instruments from pictures, carvings and existing examples. Therefore, sounds which might be thought to have been long since faded into the past are still vibrantly alive for us to enjoy. You may have a rare copy of the LP recording of their South Bank concerts, “Flutes, Reeds & Whistles” made in 1978.

Doreen and Michael have also been instrumental in expanding the popularity of the Hurdy-gurdy following a chance meeting with a Hurdy-gurdy player in Paris in the early 1970s; this was the first time they had seen the instrument, which dominated their lives; they both became proficient players, and set up the Hurdy-gurdy society, were beginners, teachers and makers would come together to learn about the Vielle. Doreen wrote the first English language Method of the Hurdy-gurdy, which has been sold around the world and is still in demand today, opening up opportunities for makers and players everywhere.