Biography
The York Waits comprises a five-piece ensemble dedicated to restoring England’s 14th-century civic “city band” custom. The group concentrates on historical repertoire played exclusively on period instruments and regularly supplies music for civic ceremonies hosted by York’s Lord Mayor and corporation. Its members are Anthony Barton (cornet, tenor shawm, soprano capped shawn, Flemish bagpipe, pipe and tabor, percussion, recorders, cittern, lute), Tim Bailey (sackbut, soprano shawm, hurdy-gurdy, alto-flute, alto curtal, recorders), James Merryweather (bass curtal, tenor shawm, English and Flemish bagpipes, recorders), Ian Richardson (bass curtal, soprano and soprano capped shawm, recorders, flute, hurdy-gurdy), and Roger Richardson (alto shawm, soprano and capped shawms, recorders, bass flute). Together they interpret pieces composed between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries with historically informed technique and have issued multiple albums on the Saydisc label, among them 1588: Music From the Time of the Spanish Armada and Music From the Time of Richard III. Their approach is intentionally archaic, recreating an expressive authenticity rooted centuries earlier. Contemporary listeners may detect resemblances to the timbres of Gryphon and Amazing Blondel.
Albums
