The recorder is a woodwind instrument. Sound is made when air is blown through a tube. The air vibrates and produces a sound. The sound changes in pitch when different holes in the instrument are opened or closed. When the holes are close, the pitch is low. Opening the holes raises the pitch. The pitch can also be made higher by over-blowing into the mouthpiece. The reorder mouthpiece differs from other woodwinds in that it is a whistle.
Recorders have been used as instruments for over five thousand years. Artifacts of this type of instrument have been found in almost every country in the world. Earliest examples of recorders found have been made out of bone, horn or reeds. The name "recorder" came from a word that meant to practice a song. These songs usually referred to the songs of birds.
The Medieval and Renaissance Periods
During the Medieval period, the recorder was played by wandering entertainers, or minstrels as they traveled the countryside. Other instruments that were used at this time included the lyre, drum and cymbals. Recorders were used to play simple melodies to accompany dancing, marches or celebrations.
The recorder reached the height of its popularity during the Renaissance period. Many households owned chests of more that twenty recorders. Composers of the day wrote music fro the recorder. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 features the recorder as do concertos written by Vivaldi.
Modern Use of the Recorder
Once orchestral instruments, such as the transverse flute we are familiar with today, were developed in the mid 1800's the recorder became less popular. The transverse flute had a much greater range and sound. However, the recorder continued to be used in the revival of folk music and even in popular rock songs from the last few decades, such as The Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday and Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.
Today, recorders are used primarily in music classrooms because they are a relatively easy instrument for elementary students to play. Good quality contemporary recorders are made out of hardwood or boxwood. Plastic recorders are much cheaper and are generally the ones used in the classroom and can be found in most music stores. There are four different types of recorders that can be used and produce different pitches of sounds: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The soprano recorder is the one mostrly used in the music class as it follows a treble line of music, making it easy for students to transfer prior knowledge of music note reading.
Sources:
Lloyd, Norman. The Golden Encyclopedica of Music. New York: Golden Press, 1968.
Westrup and Harrison, The New College Encyclopedia of Music. New York: Norton and Comapny, 1960.
