Though often thought of as instruments for children, recorders are among the most popular types of woodwind instruments that have been used by famous composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach. These musical instruments are the precursor design of the modern day flute and are also one of the easiest musical instruments to play.
Usually made of wood and ivory, and later of plastic, a recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the fipple, or whistle flute class. It is also part of the internal duct flute family which also includes the flute and the clarinet. Recorders are made up of seven finger holes and a thumb hole to be manipulated by the thumb of whichever hand is placed higher than the instrument. It is long and narrows towards one end. These musical instruments are also popularly known as English Flutes.
As mentioned, recorders are among the musical instruments that are very easy to use. To produce sound, the player only needs to blow wind into the instrument and against an edge called the labium while opening and closing the finger holes. With the right combination of wind and open/closed holes, music is produced. With the simplicity of their use, these items have been popularly used throughout the medieval times and until the baroque period. Today, these woodwind instruments are found to be suitable instruments for teaching music to amateur players and are again fast regaining their popularity.
Recorders also come in a variety of types-each of which is used to produce a different type of sound. Based on their size, the five types of recorders, beginning from the smallest, are the sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, and bass. The sopranino usually measures about 24 cm while the bass recorder has an approximate measure of 94 cm. So that the player can reach the finger holes, bass recorders, with their length, also feature an extra metal tube to blow into. Among these five, the one most popularly used is the descant which produces a soprano voice quality.
A high quality recorder can often be determined from the type of material used in its manufacture. Those made from hardwoods such as maple, pear wood, rosewood, granadilla, and boxwood with a block of red cedar wood are considered higher quality recorders and are preferred by professionals as they produce a much mellower sound quality. Nonetheless, recorders are also now being manufactured from plastic. Those made from this material are often cheaper and require less maintenance. Though with a lower quality than those made from hardwoods, the quality of sound produced by plastic recorders is, nonetheless, equal to or better than lower-end wooden instruments.
One can indeed become well acquainted with the basic of music through the use of recorders. These woodwind instruments are certainly excellent choices for children-as well as adults-wanting to learn how to play more challenging musical instruments. As such, investing on one of these items can indeed be considered a worthy investment.
Usually made of wood and ivory, and later of plastic, a recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the fipple, or whistle flute class. It is also part of the internal duct flute family which also includes the flute and the clarinet. Recorders are made up of seven finger holes and a thumb hole to be manipulated by the thumb of whichever hand is placed higher than the instrument. It is long and narrows towards one end. These musical instruments are also popularly known as English Flutes.
As mentioned, recorders are among the musical instruments that are very easy to use. To produce sound, the player only needs to blow wind into the instrument and against an edge called the labium while opening and closing the finger holes. With the right combination of wind and open/closed holes, music is produced. With the simplicity of their use, these items have been popularly used throughout the medieval times and until the baroque period. Today, these woodwind instruments are found to be suitable instruments for teaching music to amateur players and are again fast regaining their popularity.
Recorders also come in a variety of types-each of which is used to produce a different type of sound. Based on their size, the five types of recorders, beginning from the smallest, are the sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, and bass. The sopranino usually measures about 24 cm while the bass recorder has an approximate measure of 94 cm. So that the player can reach the finger holes, bass recorders, with their length, also feature an extra metal tube to blow into. Among these five, the one most popularly used is the descant which produces a soprano voice quality.
A high quality recorder can often be determined from the type of material used in its manufacture. Those made from hardwoods such as maple, pear wood, rosewood, granadilla, and boxwood with a block of red cedar wood are considered higher quality recorders and are preferred by professionals as they produce a much mellower sound quality. Nonetheless, recorders are also now being manufactured from plastic. Those made from this material are often cheaper and require less maintenance. Though with a lower quality than those made from hardwoods, the quality of sound produced by plastic recorders is, nonetheless, equal to or better than lower-end wooden instruments.
One can indeed become well acquainted with the basic of music through the use of recorders. These woodwind instruments are certainly excellent choices for children-as well as adults-wanting to learn how to play more challenging musical instruments. As such, investing on one of these items can indeed be considered a worthy investment.
About the Author:
Jean Francois is a high school music teacher from Germany. To teach music to his students who are just beginning to learn the basics of music, teacher Jean uses a recorder, a type of music instrument that is also known as "Moeck Blockfloete" in German.
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