Recorder

Tuning: C

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The recorder

The recorder is a hollow wooden pipe. These are particularly ancient instruments, found in the earliest civilizations. Today, we know it as a family of instruments in different sizes, including the soprano

, alto

, tenor

and bass

recorder. Professional recorder players also play the tiny sopranino

, and less known versions.

Until the baroque period

, the recorder was an orchestral instrument. It was very common in England

and because of its characteristic sound it was named "recorder", which means "squeak". Bach

and Handel

wrote many works for solo

recorder, and for different ensembles including the recorder.

Beginning in the Classic period

, the flute

replaced the recorder in the orchestra, and the recorder gradually became, unjustly, an instrument deployed for musical teaching purposes rather than artistic performance. The revival of performing ancient music on authentic instruments brought the recorder back to the center of the stage, and it now boasts many listeners.

Recorders Ensemble

Composers

Bach

Handel

"And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." (Genesis, chapter 4:21)

Paintings

The Player on the Flute (c. 1721) by Janos Kupetzky, Museum der bildenden Kunste, Budapest