Five Fabulous Facts on the Recorder

The recorder is a woodwind instrument from ancient times made of plastic or wood. It consists 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 create the wind pipe.

Recorders and recorder music can be viewed at the following shop.Just click the banner and follow the link CLASSROOM AND KIDS

There is a range of different 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 different keys as mentioned above.

The lowest note of the descant and tenor recorders is C and hence 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 avoid too many 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 slightly less.

The descant, treble and tenor recorders are the most common.

For more information on the Five Recorders READ HERE

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

Different sounds are created by placing the fingers over the holes in different orders. Each sound or note name has a particular finger pattern called fingering. eg you can start of by saying "the fingering of A is........"

If you are interested in learning the recorder you can

1. read the following articles:

a. Teaching Beginners The Recorder

This gives you an overview of what can be taught at lessons.

b. Learning To Play Pieces Using the Treble Clef

This will apply to most of the recorder types.

2. Grab a tutor and Teach Yourself
Here is RECORDER FUN! TEACH YOURSELF THE EASY WAY

Click on pictures to see bigger

The recorder was first established as being in existence in the 12th century.

The word 'recorder' first appeared in a document in 1388.

A recorder tutor was published in Venice in1535.

In the 15th and 16th century there were several sizes of recorder available which
coverered 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 period for the recorder with lots of 'consort' playing.

In the 18th century and after Handel died in 1759 the recorder started to decline in popularity and almost died Idue to the growth of the orchestra.It was found that the fuller tone of the modern 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 popular instrument for primary school children to learn as part of their music program.

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.

View his portrait to the right

b. William Shakespeare ( 1564 - 1616 ) was a famous poet and playwright.He had recorders either in his plays on stage ( Hamlet), as a mention ( Midsummer Nights Dream) or used to provide incidental music especially when a scene was quiet, religious or mournful.

c.Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703 ) lived in London during 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 famous for his diary which recorded nearly ten years of his life between 1660 - 1669. The diary included accounts of the Great Plague and Fire and Second Dutch war and was first published in the 19th century. He loved music including the sound of the recorder at the theatre and decided 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 many great composers who wrote music for the recorder.

Check out
Handels famous Water Music for 4 to 5 Recorders Here

Hope you have enjoyed learning five fabulous facts on the recorder which included what a recorder is, how you play the recorder , a little history including recorder connections with four famous figures and the five different sized recorders set in two different keys.