David John Munrow (12 August 194215 May 1976) was a British musician and early music historian. Early life and education Munrow was born in Birmingham where both his parents taught at the University of Birmingham. His mother, Hilda Ivy (née Norman) Munrow (1905-1985), was a dance teacher and his father, Albert Davis "Dave" Munrow (1908-1975), was a lecturer and physical education instructor who wrote a book on the subject. Munrow attended King Edward's School, Birmingham until 1960. He excelled academically and was noted for his treble voice. He was lent a bassoon and returned in about a fortnight, able to play it remarkably well. In 1960, Munrow took a gap year and went to Peru to teach English at Markham College in Lima under the British Council student teacher scheme. He reached Lima by train from São Paulo and later spent some time touring Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, immersing himself in the traditional music of Latin America and collecting folk instruments. He returned to Britain with a number of Bolivian flutes and other obscure instruments. While reading English for a master's degree at Pembroke College, Cambridge, he became involved in musical performance, playing South American instruments in a students' autumn-term concert organised by Christopher Hogwood. A professor of music, Thurston Dart, was intrigued by Munrow's performance and encouraged him to explore links between Latin American folk instruments and early European instruments. While visiting Dart's study, Munrow noticed a crumhorn hanging on the wall; Dart suggested he borrow it and this inspired Munrow to commence an independent study of early musical instruments. Career Starting from his ability as a pianist, singer and bassoonist, Munrow began to acquire copies of medieval and renaissance instruments, together with folk instruments such as the Chinese shawm 'suona' and Spanish bagpipes 'gaita'. Whilst still an undergraduate he began to give lecture recitals, initially assisted by Mary Remnant. Later, he formed a trio with Christopher Hogwood and his future wife, Gillian Reid, and toured music clubs and music societies giving recitals featuring predominantly medieval and renaissance music, some of which was featured in the Oryx LP 'The Mediaeval Sound'. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company Windband as a bassoonist but soon played instruments of Shakespeare's time under the encouragement of music director Guy Wolfenden. Although he displayed talent on a wide variety of instruments, he had a particular lasting influence as a recorder player. His English