Wooden Recorder

Wooden Recorder

Two-piece with dark finish Soprano Recorder for Baroque (English) fingering in the Key of C. Patented mouthpiece vanes for uniform wind dispersal. Body-molded thumb guides. Two-piece, lasting construction will make this a bestloved instrument!

It is very relaxing playing a musical instrument,like the recorder, on your own, with one other person or in a group. The recorder is a simple instrument which is easy to learn and play a tune. And it has been around for centuries. So it is very interesting to recognise a little background on the recorder to get the most of your musical experience on it.

You will discover what the recorder is with it is varying sizes, how to play the recorder with examples of fingerings and sound and the history of the recorder with recorder connections to four great historical figures.

1. What is the Recorder:

The recorder is a woodwind instrument from ancient times made of plastic or wood. It comprises of a straight pipe, 7 finger holes in the front, 1 thumb hole in the back and a detachable beak shaped mouthpiece.

The recorder was formerly known as ‘English Flute’ or ‘Fipple Flute’ because it was derived from the old English verb ‘to record’ which meant ‘sing like a bird’ and it has a fipple, which is the block of wood inserted in the end of the mouthpiece to formulate the wind pipe.

2. Recorders of Different Sizes:

There is a range of dissimilar sized recorders.

Here are five of them in order of size from smallest to biggest:

- Sopranino in the key of F

- Descant (soprano) in the key of C

- Treble (alto) in the key of F

- Tenor in the key of C

- Bass in the key of F

They all use the same fingering but are set in two dissimilar keys as noted above.

The lowest note of the descant and tenor recorders is C and consequently they are in the key of C. This same fingered lowest note in the sopranino, descant and bass recorders is an F and hence they are in the key of F.

The sopranino, descant and bass recorders sound one octave higher than the written music to keep out of the way of too a lot of ledger lines. Music is written at the same pitch for the tenor and treble recorders.

Music is written in the bass clef for the bass recorder and treble clef for the other four recorders.

The range of notes played covers two octaves except for the bass recorder which is more or less less.

The descant, treble and tenor recorders are the most common

3. How Do You Play the Recorder?

The recorder is played by placing the lips over the beak shaped mouthpiece and directing air through the little hole such that it passes over a sharp edge and vibrates in the main tube of the instrument.

Different sounds are formulated by placing the fingers over the holes in dissimilar orders. Each sound or note name has a peculiar finger pattern called fingering. eg you may begin of by saying “the fingering of A is……..”

4. What is the History of the Recorder?

The recorder was original traditionalisti as being in existence in the 12th century.

The word ‘recorder’ basi appeared in a document in 1388.

A recorder tutor was published in Venice in1535.

In the 15th and 16th century there were various sizes of recorder available which covered a wide range of notes. People played these in groups which is known as a ‘consort’ of recorders. Hence the 200 years from 1500 – 1700 was a popular amount of time for the recorder with a large total of ‘consort’ playing.

In the 18th century and after Handel passed away in 1759 the recorder started to decline in popularity and closely passed from physical life due to the growth of the orchestra. It was found that the fuller tone of the progressed flute combined better with the other instruments than the quieter tone of the recorder.

From 1919 Arnold Dolmetsch revived the recorder and is a favourable instrument with amateurs.

And today the recorder is a frequent instrument for essential school children to learn as percentage of their music program.

5. Recorder Connections with Four Great Historical Figures:

a. King Henry VIII (1491 – 1547 and King from 21 April 1509) was an accomplished musician and noted recorder player. He had seventy six recorders plus other instruments including ten trombones, fourteen trumpets and five bagpipes.

b. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was a widely known and esteemed poetical and playwright. He had recorders either in his plays on stage (Hamlet), as a mention (Midsummer Nights Dream) or used to provide incidental music exceptionally when a scene was quiet, religious or mournful.

c. Samuel Pepys (1633 – 1703) lived in London for the duration of the Great Plague and Great Fire of London in 1665 and 1666 and was an English Naval Administrator and Member of Parliament. He was most widely known and esteemed for his diary which recorded almost ten years of his life amidst 1660 – 1669. The diary included accounts of the Great Plague and Fire and Second Dutch war and was basi published in the 19th century. He loved music including the sound of the recorder at the theatre and decisive to learn it. He also played other instruments and was a keen singer.

d. George Frederick Handel ( 1685 – 1759 ): He was a famous musician and composer and was one of a good deal of great composers who wrote music for the recorder.

Knowing what a recorder is with it is varying sizes, historical connections and an introduction to sound production and method of play is provides five interesting background recorders facts that could influence a decision to play the recorder.

Wooden Recorder Image

Wooden Recorder Photo

Wooden Recorder Picture

Wooden Recorder Photo

Most helpful client reviews

25 of 27 persons found the following review helpful.
Nice recorder, good value.
By Spaceapeman
This recorder has a nice design, more streamlined than the typical recorder. It plays in tune, and sounds as good as my more pricey plastic recorder. All the notes may be hit, and the smell and taste of the wood add to the experience. It is made in China not Germany but it is handsomely made. Would be splendid for people who want a wood recorder for amount of time reenactments. Well worth the cost, I plan on buying another as a back up.

14 of 14 humans found the following review helpful.
Great for the price
By G. Gouveia
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R202LU0NXEPG5D This was my original wooden recorder and it was great value for money. It sounds so much better than the plastic recorders, even the good ones such as the Yamaha 300 series. Pity it doesn’t come with a better bag or case. It is just a transparent plastic bag but the recorder is well worth the price. You ought to also do not forget that wooden recorders require extra care. If you are just buying a recorder for a young kid, you’re better off with the plastic ones.

12 of 13 persons found the following review helpful.
Great recorder – worth the price!
By J. Herbold
My 13-yrs old daughter wanted a better recorder than the cheap plastic one she had for assorted years. I decisive to go with this wood recorder and have not been disappointed. I likewise purchased her a instruct yourself recorder book and she has been playing some beauteous music. This was a outstanding purchase!

See all 16 client reviews…