OUR speaker this month wasTedWatson, an RSC theatre musician who gave a fascinating talk and demonstration.

Shakespeare’s quote “All theWorld’s A Stage”,from As You like It, has ensured that music accompanying his plays would be played worldwide and has inspired many compositions for his players. “The Age of Shakespeare” was “The Age of Song”.

Starting his RSC career in 1966,Ted joined as a clarinettist but was soon asked to play the alto saxophone which he then had to learn.

We listened to his version of Where the Bee Sucks and Shaun Davey’s Statue music which was written for him.

Ted demonstrated his many woodwind instruments, ranging from bass clarinetto the E flat clarinet known as “the squeaker.”

His collection of recorders and saxophones included an outback sax and period instruments such as the crumhorne.

His versatility also extended to percussion instruments such as the waterphone, used for times offoreboding, a gamelan orchestra, bones and a whoopee cushion to be used in appropriate places!

Ted also showed how the musicians would dress up for the performances and become an integral part of the scene.

In Othello, musicians were escorted onto the stage by Ted’s clarion call signifying early morning.

The evening finished with a performance of A Warwickshire Lad.

The opening line to Twelfth Night “If Music Be the Food ofLove, Play On”

summed up our fabulous evening.

Our president gave the vote ofthanks followed by another well-deserved round of applause.