Used by famous composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, and Joseph Sebastian Bach, recorders are one of the easiest musical instruments to play. Though the popularity of these instruments witnessed a decline during the 18th Century, they are today among the most popularly used types of woodwind instruments to teach little children and neophytes how to play musical instruments.
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 can be purchased in five different types. Each of these types varies in size, as well as in the type of sound that they produce. Among these five, the smallest, which has an approximate size of 24 cm, is the sopranino. The largest, on the hand, is the bass with an approximate measurement of 94 cm. With its length, a bass recorder includes an extra metal tube to blow into. Alternately, the most popular type of these instruments is the descant which produces a soprano voice quality. The other two types of recorders, which are larger than the sopranino and the descant, but are smaller than the bass, are the treble and the tenor.
In the earlier times, ivory and wood are the primary materials used in the manufacture of recorders. This is because the quality of sound these instruments can produce largely depends on the type of material used to assemble them. However, as ivory and wood tends to be expensive, recorders are also being manufactured today from plastic. Recorders made from plastic are more popularly used today as they are less expensive and require less maintenance. Their quality is also often equal to or even better than those made from lower-end wooden instruments. Nonetheless, many professionals still prefer the use of those made from hardwoods as they produce a sound that is mellower. These materials that are used in the manufacture of higher quality recorders include maple, pear wood, rosewood, granadilla, and boxwood with a block of red cedar wood.
Recorders are indeed excellent instruments for beginners and amateur musical instrument players. In no time, one can certainly become a professional with the use of these woodwind instruments. As such, investing on one can definitely 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 can be purchased in five different types. Each of these types varies in size, as well as in the type of sound that they produce. Among these five, the smallest, which has an approximate size of 24 cm, is the sopranino. The largest, on the hand, is the bass with an approximate measurement of 94 cm. With its length, a bass recorder includes an extra metal tube to blow into. Alternately, the most popular type of these instruments is the descant which produces a soprano voice quality. The other two types of recorders, which are larger than the sopranino and the descant, but are smaller than the bass, are the treble and the tenor.
In the earlier times, ivory and wood are the primary materials used in the manufacture of recorders. This is because the quality of sound these instruments can produce largely depends on the type of material used to assemble them. However, as ivory and wood tends to be expensive, recorders are also being manufactured today from plastic. Recorders made from plastic are more popularly used today as they are less expensive and require less maintenance. Their quality is also often equal to or even better than those made from lower-end wooden instruments. Nonetheless, many professionals still prefer the use of those made from hardwoods as they produce a sound that is mellower. These materials that are used in the manufacture of higher quality recorders include maple, pear wood, rosewood, granadilla, and boxwood with a block of red cedar wood.
Recorders are indeed excellent instruments for beginners and amateur musical instrument players. In no time, one can certainly become a professional with the use of these woodwind instruments. As such, investing on one can definitely 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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