Interesting things to know!!!

The Recorder Throughout The Recorder Throughout HistoryHistory The recorder is the

most highly developed member of the ancient family of duct flutes.

Here is the oldest existing picture of one.

It’s from 1315!

There it is…

The oldest surviving complete instrument dates from as early as the mid-thirteenth century.

It is worth almost $1,000,000!

Maybe, I’ll

take the money…

The second oldest existing recorder is from the 14th century and was found in northern Germany.

Ach, du lieber

Himmel!

YUP, in a latrine!!!

Recorders from long ago produced a tone which was sweet and keen.

In general, it had a small range. The bigger the instrument, the fewer notes it could play.

During the fifteenth century, instrument makers began producing choirs of recorders and other instruments in many sizes.

There are many existing examples of recorders of this time.

They sounded bold and rich and the high notes were just as strong as the low notes.

Renaissance RecordersRenaissance Recorders

During the Baroque age, the recorder became important as a solo instrument.

Makers of recorders were busy trying to improve the recorder. The shape changed and became more tapered. The range got bigger.

Recorders were also members of the orchestra at this time.

AND THEN, THEY AND THEN, THEY DISAPPEARED…DISAPPEARED…

BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTED TO PLAY THE FLUTE!

The flute was louder. The flute had more notes. The flute ABSOLUTELY TOOK OVER!!!

And then recorders reappeared!And then recorders reappeared!

Recorders began to make a come back in the 1890s in Germany.

The German Recorder Movement was started by Peter Harlan. He taught all of his young students the recorder, so that they could learn how to make music.

Factories that made recorders began to flourish.

Arnold Dolmetsch, who came to England from France in 1883 to study at the Royal College of Music, loved the sound of recorders.

He bought an old recorder at an auction in 1905 and taught himself to play the recorder.

Maybe he should have bought a razor, too…

His son lost the recorder in 1919 on Waterloo station.

Arnold began making his own recorders!

Do you think he let his son have another one?

Aaawww…PLEASE,

Dad!

The recorder’s popularity spread to the United States in the early 1900s.

Instruments were made cheaper and became more readily available to students.

They are used in many classrooms throughout the United States and Europe.

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, SO WHAT DOES A SO WHAT DOES A

MODERN ONE MODERN ONE LOOK LIKE???LOOK LIKE???

WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE PARTS of the PARTS of the

RECORDER???RECORDER???

Are they hard to play?Are they hard to play?

AND

REMEMBER TO:REMEMBER TO:

Put the LEFT hand on the top Put all fingers down – FLAT Cover the thumb hole entirely Sit up straight and breathe deeply Remain relaxed Blow gently and steadily