Why are so many people here so down on recorders? I’ve read through quite a few posts that give little side slaps at recorders and I was just wondering why this is. I don’t play one but I’ve heard them played and they don’t sound bad at all so I’m confused as to why the attitude towards them. Any ideas?
Thanks
-Jim
As a very avid recorder player myself ( got a gig this Sunday with our consort) I am just a bit mystified by this too.
A lot of peoples supposed prejudice about the recorder on C&F is quite good natured, based mostly on the fact that the tone of a recorder is not strictly traditional as compared to a whistle. I’ll grant that, but the recorder has some tremendous advantages too. First it is FULLY chromatic which means you can play ANY tune in ANY key with just one instrument ( and a lot of practice of course…). You can buy really excellent plastic recorders very inexpensively. A Soprano in C corresponds to a D whistle ( with the right pinky playing the low C and C#). An alto F is like a low G, and a Tenor is like a low D. They even go lower-- Bass, Great Bass, and Contrabass. These last two are not available in plastic.
Note that fingering on recorders is similar to, but not exactly like whistle.
Definitely worth checking out. If Joanie Madden can play wonderful trad music on a non-trad modern flute, why not a recorder?
Because it’s unnatural and an abomination in the hearing of the Lord! 
Recorders don’t kill traditional music: recorder players do.
Plus the fact that they look so darn goofy.
It’s a side-affect of WhOA disorder… let’s just leave it at that.
Several members had asked what kind of whistle was used in the Lord Of The Rings soundtrack. Ironically it was a recorder! This inspired me to try one. Like Paul said, the fingering is more complex than the whistle.
I modified one wooden recorder to be a whistle. Here’s my post about it. I love the tone!
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=6267&forum=1&5
Hi,
I believe when we discussed this before, we all decided that the Recorder was for
EARLY music-type tunes, that sound entirely
diffrerent from our Irish-jig-type ones.
So, I believe we finally got everyone
(well almost everyone) to agree that both
instruments are great, but they have to
“keep their place”, ha ha
I use them when I find a tune in a book
that says “England” instead of Ireland
as the country of origin.
Lolly
Frickin’ recorders!
Recorder on LotR? Might want to double check that. Word in on the street is that an Irish ex-pat in Australia played flutes and whistles on the soundtrack.
Slainte!
Aaron
I’ve always been of the thought that the recorder teasing was of the good-natured-ribbing one might give a little brother.
Of course, some folks really hate their little brothers.
On 2002-09-19 10:54, AaronMalcomb wrote:
Recorder on LotR? Might want to double check that. Word in on the street is that an Irish ex-pat in Australia played flutes and whistles on the soundtrack.
Slainte!
Aaron
Play along with the soundtrack. It is obvious that songs are played on a chromatic instrument with a woody tone. Itsa recorder. That’s proof enough.
Jaysus,
Someone actually wrote to the dude who played on the soundtrack, and he responded. It was a frickin’ recorder… end of story!
Chris
MY little bother (typo intentional) was and still is a real PITA. Some things, like our grade-school recorders, don’t age well. Like, who really needs 10 holes when six do just fine. Chromatic, schmomatic. Who really needs just one instrument when a dozen are clearly more impressive.
Jim,
I have a hard time understanding it
myself. At least the negativity seems good natured. I suspect if some of these folks
went to a concert by a master recorder
player they might be converted. Someone like Michela Petri or Aldo Abreu would shock
a lot of these folks with the dynamics you
can achieve on a recorder. It’s just my
humble personal view but it bothers me
when people view whistles as just for
“IrishTrad” and recorders just for
“Early Music”. Both instruments are
played and used well in numerous musical
styles and in my humble view should not
be put in a “place”.
Kelhorn Mike
LoTR didn’t have any recorders, come on (at least, that’s what I believe in.) It would have spoiled the folk scenario present in Tolkien’s world, especially the Hobbits’ town!
Having said that, many many people in my country hate recorders for one simple reason: bad childhood experience. It sticks in your mind that the recorder is bad, from young, 'cos they teach recorder in grade school and don’t do it properly. So everytime the class goes on, shrills abound.
Bad childhood experience. Sigh.
I concur with the “grade school” school of thought. Too many of us were subjected to mandatory (and bad) recorder, tone flute, or flutaphone lessons in the second grade. We remember the recorder as being good only for playing “Hot Cross Buns”. It has retained a sort of geeky status because of that (at least in my neck of the woods).
My opinion, though, is that one should play whatever instrument(s) speak to them. To hell with whoever thinks you’re geeky. Of course, I’m a fife player, so what do I know?
This might be the right time… good or bad.
Mike, I have a set of four wooden recorders that are over 30 years old. They are in an instrument case that’s been in a closet away from heat or cold for at least 25 years.
I paid close to $400 for them new and I’m no longer interested in keeping them. Before I put them up for sale, I want to clean them well and remove that ‘funky wooden musical instrument’ smell. Any suggestions?
Avanutria suggested I try a Yahoo club on woodwinds. What do you recommend?
OK, if you want to play a recorder, the first thing you must realize is that there is nothing wrong with you. It’s not something you or anyone could have helped. There are recorder players who lead perfectly normal and productive lives. Consider finding a support group near you and attending meetings. It helps to speak to others who have coped with recorders in the past. The most important thing is being honest with yourself and others.
And remember, we love you!
K Mike, I hope you’ve noticed how we’re all on our very best behaviour and nobody has commented on the recorder-like tone of certain makes of whistle of the non-tin variety? (That’s a big , BTW!)
An PluiméirCeolmhar
[ This Message was edited by: Roger O’Keeffe on 2002-09-19 12:10 ]