Seattle Recorder Society records, approximately 1950-2023

The Seattle Recorder Guild was formed in 1949 as an organization to bring together those who play, want to play or investigate more about the recorder instrument. Starting in 1960 the American Recorder Society from New York City began to include chapters from the entire United States. The Seattle Chapter was formed in 1964. Ten years later, the Seattle Recorder Society (SRS) was incorporated as a separate organization from the American Recorder Society. Aided by the Northwest Recorder Course (NWRC) starting in 1968, membership in the Seattle Recorder Society increased dramatically. This growth led to an increase in workshops during the 1970s which led to the creation of the Early Music Guild of Seattle (EMG).

The earliest SRS meetings took place at the University Music Center as the store in the University District was the only one to carry recorders and accompanying music. Attendance at these early meetings was usually less than a dozen people.

In 1968, the NWRC hosted a one-week summer workshop about recorder technique and music. Seven of these workshops took place through 1975, none associated with the SRS. This increase in recorder activity in Seattle led to membership growth in the SRS. As the SRS continued to grow they appointed three music directors. In 1970, the role was consolidated and was awarded to Peter Seibert, an already experienced conductor. He went on to hold the position for 45 years.

The monthly newsletter "Recorder Notes" was first released in 1970. It was mailed to members of the SRS every month from October to May. Editor Mary Adams would handwrite final copies and Frances DeGermain would type it on a mimeograph before printing and handwriting the address on each copy. Adams and DeGermain held their positions for over twenty years.

Recorder Notes (RN) did not only contain meeting dates and times, but concert and workshop reviews as well as articles about various musical subjects. This attracted many members and after having each meeting at a different location, it permanently settled in the school building on the north side of the St. Mark's Cathedral parking lot. Meetings now hosted large group playing but also contained presentations on subjects related to the recorder. The SRS moved to Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in north Seattle in 1981.

In 1972, the SRS began to expand its meeting topics from just recorders after an Early Music workshop at the University of Victoria which twenty SRS members attended. Early Music magazine was created by Oxford University Press in 1972. The final issue of RN came out in 1973 and contained reviews by the music director about every article in the first issue of the Early Music magazine. By 1974, the early music movement had become increasingly involved with the SRS and added choral music to its meetings.

In 1977, the EMG was incorporated to fulfill the want for an organization devoted to early music beyond just recorders. EMG focused mainly on performance and professional musicians whereas the SRS focused on amateur musicians and group playing.