I used to have a CD called Alchemist by Philip Pickett, which included a track by Mainerio - Ruff Music.  There's a bzarre and very funny Crumhorn bit after the first subject.

I'm aware that Pickett doesn't always try for, say, the most authentic sound. Can anyone tell me how thi work is supposed to sound?  Direct me to a recording, etc?

Many thanks

Tommo

If I didn't know better I would say raspberries and kazoos. Makes me wonder which members of the family were assembled to perform that - I don't think I've ever seen a bass crumhorn. But to me, a crumhorn consort is the epitome of popular Elizabethan music (sorry, Tallis, Byrd, Blow, Morley et al)

Well, as a start you would probably get on better with an alto ... that was what you meant, wasn't it?

I can confirm that bass crumhorns certainly existed, and there are even some museum examples of them!  (in Munich, for example). Praetorius's extensive manual on the instruments of his era (first decade of C17th) lists not only a bass crumhorn, but also a "great-bass", pitched a fifth below the bass crumhorn. He also provides illustrations of the complete set.  I've played both the bass and great-bass crumhorn, and even got involved in constructing a modern reproduction of a bass crumhorn (which still plays, and can occassionally be seen in action at the Globe Theatre in London).  There's only one surviving piece specifically intended for crumhorn consort, which is a single "Paduan" (ie Pavane) "fuer Krummhornen" by Praetorius's contemporary, Schein.  It's a stately and funereal piece that's unusual expansive and expressive for such ungainly instruments ;-)

If you think a consort of crumhorns is comical, wait until you see (and hear) a consort of racketts