After surprising and delighting his audience during a recorder recital at the Gonville & Caius College Alumni May Week party, Robert Henderson (Music 2021) received an unexpected and generous gift from alumnus Dale Hjort (English 1962).

Robert, the John Chumrow Choral Scholar, was greeted with scepticism by those who remember the recorder as an entry-level instrument from their own childhood. But his performance, accompanied by Tammas Slater (History and Philosophy of Science 2019) on piano, far exceeded expectations.

It was particularly poignant for one alumnus; for Dale it prompted memories of his father, Niels Ronald Hjort (Engineering 1924). Subsequently, Dale contacted Robert, via the Caius Development Office, with an offer, and the pair met in late October in Caius Chapel.

“I was particularly moved by memories of my father’s unavailing attempts to teach me to play the recorder, and wondered if Robert would be interested in taking over three recorders unplayed since my father’s death,” Dale says.

“My father came up to Caius in 1924. He was a Footlight and played the tenor saxophone in the University Dance Club Band – an unconventional preparation for the recorder, but I am sure he would be very happy to know that Robert will now be able to spread the enchantment of recorder music more widely still.”

Robert was delighted to accept.

“It’s fantastic,” he says. “There’s a real sense of history to them and I’m delighted to be bringing that forward. 

“I’m learning myself about these instruments. There are different positions of finger holes, there are valves on one of them and it requires a new breathing technique.”

Robert’s intention is to use the recorders in College music making or concerts.