The Recorder

I have no previous research on the recorder, neither can it be found in the Study of Orchestration book due to it not being a regular part of the standard orchestra. Wikipedia and recorderhomepage.net have been very helpful in putting together a picture of this instrument in my mind.


History

The recorder is a woodwind instrument belonging to the fipple flutes family. It was popular from medieval times through to the baroque era, declining in the 18th century in favour of orchestral woodwind instruments such as oboe, flute and clarinet. It was traditionally associated with pastoral scenes and to imitate the sound of birds.


Note Production

The recorder is commonly pitched at concert pitch. (A=440 Hz). Among serious amateur and professional instruments, there can also be found two other standard pitches: baroque instruments A=415 Hz, renaissance instruments A=466hz. It is not a transposing instrument, although highest and lowest members of the recorder family do transpose at the octave. 

The instrument is held out in front of the player as opposed to sideways like the transverse flute. The player's breath is directed down a narrow channel called the 'windway' which is cut out of the block called the 'fipple'. After exiting the windway, the air is directed against a sharp edge called the 'labium' or 'ramp' which causes the column of air inside the body of the instrument to oscillate. The length of the resonator tube is adjusted by placing fingers over the finger holes.   


Construction

The recorder is made from a range of hardwoods or plastic. It has seven tone holes at the front, and one at the back for the thumb.


Playing Techniques

Several 'extended' playing techniques offering special colouristic effects are available to the modern recorder player, including but not limited to:

Non-standard fingerings, i.e. any sound created by finger combinations outside the accepted pattern. 

Flutter tonguing.

Vibrato, achieved with an exaggeration of normal diaphragm vibrato, and that created by the throat, tongue, finger, hand or even knee. 

Special effects created by playing dismantled parts of the instrument.

Percussive noises using the hands or another object.

Humming and playing at the same time.

Use of one of the tone holes to play like a flute.

Playing without a headpiece.

More conventional effects such as glissandi.