This presentation gives a brief historical overview of the musical instrument, the recorder, and has links to examples of excellent recorder players

1. Prepared by Sandra D Crawford

2. History of the Recorder
(Adapted from http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A471359)
 Recorders have been around for centuries.
 They were popular as far back as the 14th
Century.
 The earliest existing recorder, found in
Dordrecht, Holland, has been dated to the
early 14th Century.
Last revised Sept. 2013

3. Medieval Recorders
Three recorders thought to be from the 14th century.
http://indianapublicmedia.org/harmonia/the-recorder-in-the-middle-ages-a-medieval-mystery/
Last revised Sept. 2013
3

4.  In the 15th and 16th Centuries, it was
common to have groups of recorders
of different sizes to play together.
 These groups were known as
consorts.
Last revised Sept. 2013

5.  The recorders had a limited range but
produced a loud sound and blended
with each other well.
 This type of recorder is now called a
Renaissance recorder.
Last revised Sept. 2013

6. Recorder Consort
Listen to this recorder consort on YouTube
by following this hyperlink.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma6ggGDlt4k
Last revised Sept. 2013

7. Types of Recorders –
The Modern Consort
Last revised Sept. 2013

8.  In the 17th Century, the design of the
recorder changed.
 It now had a bigger range and could play all
semitones accurately in tune, making it
better able to play the Baroque music of the
time.
 Unfortunately, the Baroque recorder was not
as loud as the Renaissance recorders.
Last revised Sept. 2013

9.  Although Baroque recorders were still
made in different sizes, the fashion of
playing groups of different recorders
together lessened somewhat and the
recorder became more of a solo
instrument - the most common size the
treble or alto size (about 45cm).
Last revised Sept. 2013

10.  With the increase in popularity of the
orchestra, recorders became unpopular
because they were not loud enough to play
with the other instruments.
 By the end of the 18th Century, they were
displaced by the flute and music which had
been written for recorder was played by
flutes.
 Recorders and the techniques used to play
them were forgotten.
Last revised Sept. 2013

11.  At the beginning of the 20th Century,
there was a revival of interest in the
music of long ago, along with the
instruments used to play it.
 This happened mainly in the UK and
Germany.
 Instrument makers started to make
recorders again and the techniques for
playing them were rediscovered.
Last revised Sept. 2013

12.  In Germany, the adoption of the
recorder by the Youth Movement as an
instrument for playing folk tunes led to
millions of recorders being produced in
the 1930s.
 Since then, there has been a steady
increase in the number of quality
recorders available and of people able
to play them.
Last revised Sept. 2013

13. Young Recorder Player
 Listen to this young lady play the Brahms’ popular
Hungarian Dance number 5 on the descant (soprano
recorder)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDRwBNP9uU4
Last revised Dec. 2013

14. Resources
 Information on history:
http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A471359
 Recorder Consort
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma6ggGDlt4k
 Image
http://indianapublicmedia.org/harmonia/therecorder-in-the-middle-ages-a-medieval-mystery/
Last revised Sept. 2013