Anyone else here play the recorder?

[Fassa Albrecht]

I know that they have a nasty reputation as a kid's instrument but I cannot understand why, if they're played properly, they can't sound good.

I have a cheap Stagg descant recorder which isn't too bad, and I'm thinking of taking up the alto recorder (with its slightly saxaphone-y sound) at some time.

Anyone else (still) play one of any sort?

[colcifer]

YouTube - Gentle Giant - On Reflection 1978 BBC [HQ]

[Fassa Albrecht]

I LOVE Gentle Giant!

[Poetic Maggot]

Not to sound completely ignorant or anything, but what is a recorder anyway? I seriously don't know. Though I will say that if its something you enjoy doing, just do it!!!

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Poetic Maggot

Not to sound completely ignorant or anything, but what is a recorder anyway? I seriously don't know. Though I will say that if its something you enjoy doing, just do it!!!

THIS is a recorder:

[RosieB]

Yep, some. Soprano. A friend of mine has a renaissance music group called Wind in the Woods. All sorts of fun period instruments in addition to the recorders. I took lessons from her for a bit. Would love to learn alto or bass, but that involves buying yet another instrument. Haven't paid off the last instrument yet!

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by RosieB

Yep, some. Soprano. A friend of mine has a renaissance music group called Wind in the Woods. All sorts of fun period instruments in addition to the recorders. I took lessons from her for a bit. Would love to learn alto or bass, but that involves buying yet another instrument. Haven't paid off the last instrument yet!

Yeah, wish there was some sort of group like that round here. Not too much use for recorder in gig situations here unless you're a Gentle Giant tribute band. Or a school teacher. Or both.

[Ric5]

I used to play one for one song back in the 70s. I used to do a Jethro Tull overblowing flute thing with it until the bass came in on a song.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Ric5

I used to play one for one song back in the 70s. I used to do a Jethro Tull overblowing flute thing with it until the bass came in on a song.

It's funny, I had the same idea....mainly cause I love Jethro Tull yet can't be bothered to learn the flute. I can stand on one leg though!

[geeza]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I can stand on one leg though!

That's 'cause you only have one leg.

[Poetic Maggot]

Looks like like a flute. I dunno, for some reason I as thinking of a cassette tape... But yeah, I don't how that could be used in a band situation.

[rinners]

Where I'm from, all kids who go to government schools were taught to play the soprano recorder from Primary 4-6 (ages 10-12). Not sure if the syllabus has changed since I was that age, though.

Mostly we played on really rubbish brandless plastic things that sounded like whistles... later on I bought a rosewood Yamaha which sounded tons better. Loved it til it cracked from poor maintenance

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by rinners

Where I'm from, all kids who go to government schools were taught to play the soprano recorder from Primary 4-6 (ages 10-12). Not sure if the syllabus has changed since I was that age, though.

Mostly we played on really rubbish brandless plastic things that sounded like whistles... later on I bought a rosewood Yamaha which sounded tons better. Loved it til it cracked from poor maintenance

TBH I've never understood WHY people, wanting their kids to learn the recorder, then assume that it's only a gimmicky 'toy' instrument and settle for cheap $5 crap. Seriously, would you buy a $40 violin for a kid? No, you wouldn't, and I can't see why in some instruments, buying cheaply seems to be the norm, especially with the recorder.

And yeah, I have a decent maple one. It sounds 100000000000000000 times better than the plastic one I had.

[Orangeclawhamme]

The first time I heard a recorder was when Brian Jones played one on "Ruby Tuesday" on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late '60s. I asked one of my teachers about the instruments. He told me what it was and that one could get college credit for studying it. It was basically a flute before the modern "transverse" flutes took over.

If you want to get into this medieval instrument thing, research what double basses evolved from.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Orangeclawhamme

The first time I heard a recorder was when Brian Jones played one on "Ruby Tuesday" on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late '60s. I asked one of my teachers about the instruments. He told me what it was and that one could get college credit for studying it. It was basically a flute before the modern "transverse" flutes took over.

If you want to get into this medieval instrument thing, research what double basses evolved from.

On that note, I want a violon and a viola da gamba...

[jlane72t]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Yeah, wish there was some sort of group like that round here. Not too much use for recorder in gig situations here unless you're a Gentle Giant tribute band. Or a school teacher. Or both.

...or unless you think outside the box. There's no reason the intro bass part from For Whom The Bell Tolls couldn't be done on a recorder. Notes is notes!

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by jlane72t

...or unless you think outside the box. There's no reason the intro bass part from For Whom The Bell Tolls couldn't be done on a recorder. Notes is notes!

I've played a few Rush intros on my recorder which sounded good. I'm thinking of trying to play YYZ on it.

[Tat2dHeart]

I play flute, piccolo, and sax with the same level of mediocrity that I play bass, but bass is quickly pulling ahead. I'm also learning penny whistle (tin whistle) so I can add some Flogging Molly to the repertoire.

[Lady Kayri]

Play both soprano & alto recorder. Used to be in the SCA (medieval re-enactment group) so have kept playing off & on. When we learned to play re order in Jr high music class, I had been playing (metal transverse) flute for several years, & thus ended up being one of the kids chosen to play alto recorder. I enjoyed it so much my parents bought me both a soprano & alto recorders, & I am still.using those two recorders. (Tung and lemon oil are you friends when it comes to true woodwinds!)

[Bevo1995]

Yamaha recorders are great and (except for the bass recorder) pretty inexpensive. I have tenor, alto, soprano, and sopranino, recorders. They are fun to play in an ensemble.