2001 started with an appearance in the McDougall Art Gallery at 3 pm on Sunday March 4th. CYRE presented a popular programme of Folksongs and Dances from Ukraine and Catalonia as well as a Mozart Divertimento. A smaller ensemble also performed Warlock's Capriol Suite.
On March 31st at Christchurch Boys High School CYRE featured in a concert shared with the touring Australian Children's Choir from Melbourne along with CSM Youth Choir and Sinfonia. The successful and well-attended concert concluded with a supper for performers and guests.
Our third appearance for the year came on May 25 th in the Christ Church Cathedral when the Ensemble combined with CSM Sinfonia, CSM Girls' Choir, Avonside GHS Chorale and the Global Choir. Works by Bach and Frescobaldi were presented by the ensemble which later joined in massed items with all performers. The lovely setting and warm acoustic enhanced the pure sounds of recorders. All items were well received by the supportive audience.
On Wednesday June 7th in the Chapel of the Music Centre of Christchurch the Ensemble presented its annual Lunch-time Concert featuring works by Frescobaldi, Bach, Mozart, Eccles, Schaffrath, and South American folk musicians. The latter form part of a generous gift to the Ensemble by Sydney performer and festival organiser Justo Diaz.
The next appearances were on Sunday June 17th in the Chapel of The Music Centre of Christchurch - Echoes and Reflections II - Pipes and Reeds* - a joint presentation by CSM musicians from CYRE and the Double Reed Department led by teachers and musicians Keith Sayers and Neville Forsythe. The programme ranged from Mediaeval, Renaissance, Henry VIII, through Elizabethan music to the present day. Again shawms, gemshorn, crummhorns, bombard, dulcian, renaissance recorders and modern descendants presented a wide and varied programme.
(*This concert was repeated successfully for members of the science community attending the International Conference of Physiological Sciences held in Christchurch in August).