a horn player at the Guildhall School of Music going on to study instrument making as a Crafts Council apprentice. He has performed and recorded for many London-based early music ensembles including the Gabrieli Consort, the English Baroque Soloists. The Taverner Consort and His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts. He is a regular player at Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Shakespeare Company and continues to work as an early brass instrument maker. He is currently the UK’s only professional serpent leatherer. Michael Brain Michael Brain plays curtal, baroque bassoon, recorder, oboe and sings. He was a chorister at Westminster Abbey. He is related to the horn player Dennis Brain. On stage he gives spirited descriptions of how the instruments are constructed. He also works as a plumber. Former members The Skeapings and/or Douglas Wootton have been core of a constantly changing line-up. Musicians who have worked with the group previously include: Joe Skeaping - violin Keith Thompson - woodwind Barbara Grant - soprano, violin Nicholas Hayley - bass viol Robin Jeffrey - lute Richard Wistreich - baritone Graham Wells - woodwinds Discography The English Stage Jig (Hyperion) - released March 9 The English Tradition (ARC) Low and Lusty Ballads (Regis) Penny Merriments (Naxos) Bawdy Ballads of Old England (Regis, 1995) formerly the Mufitians of Grope Lane (Musica Oscura) Christmas Now is Drawing Near (Saydisc) CD-SDL 371 How the World Wags (Hyperion, 1981) A 66008 Pills to Purge Melancholy (Saydisc, 1990) CD-SDL 382 The Music of the Tudor Age Music of the Middle Ages Music of the Stuart Age Music from the Time of Henry VIII Music from the Time of Charles II A Madrigal for All Seasons On LP The City Waites (Decca, 1976) SKL 5264 A Gorgeous Gallery of Gallant Inventions (EMI, 1974) EMC 3017 References External links Official Website Lucy Skeaping website: Mixed early music groups British early music ensembles Musical groups established in the 1970s Musical groups from London