Paul Ashford (1906–1952) grew up on the coast of Washington and studied music at the University of Washington in Seattle. A gifted performer on the piano, theater organ, and clarinet, he began to play the recorder in the late 1930s.

Ashford was the main force behind the founding of the Seattle Recorder Guild in 1948. Two years later, he moved to San Francisco and organized the Baroque Players, a performing group of the San Francisco Recorder Guild. The works—from folk music and jazz to more classical forms—that he wrote and arranged for these groups to play at their weekly meetings reflect his versatility, humor, and keen musical sensibility. Lost in Time Press is delighted to offer some of Paul Ashford’s music to the recorder players of today.