12 Recorder Consort Performances and Facts About the Music
A recorder player from Ensemble de Musique Ancienne in Nantes
A Rewarding Instrument
The recorder is a wonderful solo and ensemble instrument. It can provide an enjoyable introduction to music for children and adults and can also be played at an advanced level. Though people may begin their study with the soprano (or descant) instrument and happily stay with it as they explore its repertoire, some players explore other sizes of recorders with different pitches.
Unfortunately, some people have a bad opinion of the recorder due to hearing cheap plastic instruments played by beginners. The cheapest soprano instruments sometimes produce a shrill and harsh sound, especially when played by young children in a group. The recorder—including the soprano version—can actually produce a lovely sound.
The instrument has a rich heritage and is being used in new ways. It offers us far more than some people may realize. In this article, I share and discuss twelve of my favourite performances by professional recorder consorts, or recorder ensembles.
In the video above, Sarah Jeffery discusses her collection of recorders and briefly demonstrates their sounds. Sarah is currently a member of The Royal Wind Music, a large ensemble of recorder players described below.
Types of Recorders
The recorder is classified as a woodwind instrument and a duct flute. It often has a whistle mouthpiece or a fipple. The different sizes of the instrument produce their own pitch range. The material that they are made of, their construction, and the player's skill also affect their sound. I play the alto recorder, which I prefer to the ones with a higher or lower pitch.
Determining how many types of recorders exist is a difficult task. Some manufacturers make huge and/or strange instruments that look nothing like a typical recorder. I don't know how historically accurate these are. This may not matter, depending on one's goals for creating a piece of music. Like music itself, instruments change over time as new features are created.
Recorder Types in Order of Increasing Size and Decreasing Pitch
- sopranino
- soprano (descant)
- alto (treble)
- tenor
- bass
- great bass
- contrabass
- sub-contrabass
The biggest instruments are so large that they need keys in order to be played and a special mouthpiece. In addition, the bell on the bottom of the instrument must rest on a support.
Recorders of different types
An ensemble is a group of instruments or voices. The term "consort" was used in the 16th and 17th century to refer to ensembles. Today a group of recorder players is often known as either a consort or an ensemble. In the case of a group of four players, it may be known as a quartet. A quartet generally consists of the most common instruments: the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
The Quinta Essentia Recorder Quartet
The Quinta Essentia Recorder Quartet is a Brazilian group. In the video below, Paul Leenhouts plays with them. He's a recorder player, a composer, and a conductor. He's also the director of the Early Music Studies Program at the University of North Texas College of Music. He founded The Royal Wind Music ensemble and was its artistic director from 1997 to 2010.
The square, light-coloured recorders in the video may look very strange to someone who hasn't seen them before. According to a comment on the group's YouTube video that was confirmed by one of the quartet's representatives, they are modern Paetzold bass recorders.
Various sizes of these instruments are also shown in other videos in this article. Herbert Paetzold is a recorder manufacturer based in Germany. Recorders bearing his surname are sold by a company called Kunath today.
Three Traditional Irish Songs
1. Jenny's Chickens
The first of the three songs played by the group is a traditional Irish reel called "Jenny's Chickens." A reel is a lively folk dance with two or four beats to a bar. I don't know who Jenny was or why her chickens were worthy of a reel in their name, but the jaunty tune sounds very interesting in a recorder ensemble version.
2. The Garten Mother's Lullaby
"Garten Mother's Lullaby" flows in a slower and gentler manner, as would be expected from its name. Garten is a parish in County Donegal. The lyrics were written by Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil, who was also known as Joseph Campbell. The melody was a traditional one collected by Herbert Hughes. The piece was first published in a 1904 book entitled Songs of Uladh. The lyrics contain references to Irish mythology as well as a gentle address to a baby.
3. King William's Rambles
"King William's Rambles" is the last piece. It's classified as a traditional Irish jig, which like a reel is a folk dance. A jig has two beats to a bar. Each of these beats is in turn divided into a group of three. The writer in the Bitesize Irish article referenced below suggests that the listener says JIG-ged-y, JIG-ged-y repeatedly as they listen to a tune. If that matches the pulse of the tune, it's a jig. I tried it with the last piece played in the video above and found that it works.
A Rondo and a Gigue
The piece above could be said to be played by a recorder quartet and therefore fits the theme of this article. Thanks to modern technology, Orlan Charles plays each of the four parts. He's a Brazilian musician who plays the recorder and other instruments.
The piece is a rondo from Abdelazer, or The Moor's Revenge, which was composed by a Baroque composer named Henry Purcell (1659–1695). The piece was used as incidental music for a play of the same name by Aphra Behn. The play is no longer performed, but Purcell's music is still popular.
In the video below, Orlan Charles uses the same technique as in the first video. He plays all five parts of a gigue of his own composition. The effect is very interesting. It gives a new meaning to the term "recorder ensemble."
The dates of musical eras are somewhat fluid. The Renaissance period is often said to have flourished in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Baroque period is said to have begun in the early seventeenth century.
Diligam Te Domine
Ascanio Trombetti was an Italian composer and wind instrument player who lived from 1544 to 1590. The sound of his "Diligam Te Domine" composition as played in the video below is slow, deep, and sonorous.
The title of the piece refers to a line in the Bible. In Latin, Psalm 18 begins with the sentence "Diligam te, Domine, fortitudo mea." The address means "I love you, Lord, my strength." In the psalm, King David expresses his love for the powerful deity that protects him and describes some of this deity's impressive abilities.
The Royal Wind Music performs the piece in the video. The group is based in Amsterdam and plays modern recorders of a Renaissance style. It currently contains thirteen members. Paul Leenhouts is the conductor in the video. According to their Facebook page, the group generally performs from memory and without a conductor today. The members of the ensemble are all former students at a music academy known as the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
The Bransle Gay Dance
A bransle gay is one name for a French folk dance that first appeared in the sixteenth century. The dance was performed by couples in a line or a circle. The pair held hands or linked their arms and moved together as the dance progressed. The movement involved steps first to one side and then to the other, which made the line of dancers look as though it was swaying.
The rhythm in the piece below is intriguing. It sounds more like people jumping than dancing to me, but it's an enjoyable piece. The piece is linked to the name of Pierre Phalèse, a sixteenth-century printer of music. It's interesting to see and hear people playing renaissance-style recorders while seeing modern traffic in the background of the video.
Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)
The piece below shows the versatility of recorder ensembles. The group is called the Flanders Recorder Quartet, though they've become a quintet for this piece. The piece that they play dates from 1936 and was a popular jazz, swing, or big band piece of the era. It was written by Louis Prima for his band known as the New Orleans Gang.
Some of the recorder players shown in the videos in this article are playing shiny black instruments. This might give the impression that the instruments are made of plastic. They are almost certainly stained wooden ones, however. In a comment on the original YouTube video, the alto recorder player in the video below says that he's playing a wooden instrument.
The Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet
The Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet consists of four women who met while they were students at The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. The musicians come from four different countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Ireland. Each of them has a successful solo career. Based on the videos that I've seen, their performances as a quartet are enjoyable.
The women sometimes do more in a performance than simply play their recorders, as can be seen in the videos below. They are entertainers as well as musicians. They give performances specifically for children as well as ones for all ages. According to the information on their website, it seems that the women perform as soloists or with other groups most of the time and come together occasionally as The Woodpecker Quartet.
In the first video below, the women play the third movement of Vivaldi's Recorder Concerto in C major. In the second, they play the Contrapunctus IX from The Art of Fugue by J.S. Bach.
Greensleeves to a Ground
The piece below is a variation of the Greensleeves melody. The original tune may not be recognized by someone listening to the piece or recognized only in some sections. The "ground" refers to a ground bass or a repeated melody in the bass part.
The piece may sound modern, but it first appeared in a published form in a 1706 collection called The Division Flute. The collection was created by John Walsh. The word "division" in the title means variation in today's terminology. The word "flute" means the recorder.
The Fontanella Recorder Quintet performs the piece. The ensemble is a British group that specializes in historical music, new music, and education. I don't know how similar their piece is to the eighteenth-century Walsh version, but it's enjoyable to listen to.
Autumn Leaves
The video below is also performed by the Fontanella Recorder Quintet. The piece is called "Autumn Leaves" and was arranged by one of the players. I don't know the name of the composer.
The performance shows another style of music that can be created with a group of modern recorders. The instruments are useful in new and experimental music and well as in classical, jazz, folk, and early music. Some groups are exploring the production of unusual sounds by recorders.
A Useful Instrument and Enjoyable Music
The recorder is a lovely instrument. It's a great purchase for someone of any age who has never played a musical instrument before or who is new to reading sheet music. It's also a valuable instrument for people with more advanced skills who want to explore the possibilities of the instrument.
A recorder enables people to play music from different periods of time on their own or in the company of others. In addition, it allows them to compose their own pieces. If someone has no desire to play a recorder—or if they do—listening to professional recorder players can be very enjoyable and also educational.
References
- Information about jigs and reels from Bitesize Irish
- A brief biography of Henry Purcell from baroquemusic.org
- Facts about a ground bass from Encyclopedia Britannica
- Bransles in Stravinksy's ballet Agon (with information about the bransle gay) from a University of Houston doctoral candidate
© 2019 Linda Crampton
Comments
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 26, 2020:
Hi, Peggy. Playing the recorder can be very rewarding. I would love to take lessons if I could. Thanks for commenting.
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on February 26, 2020:
My German friend plays a recorder. She continually takes lessons and also plays in a group that performs in places like nursing homes. I was unfamiliar with that instrument until I heard her playing it one day when I was visiting her in her home town of Herrenberg.
Many of the videos above were so enjoyable. Thanks for writing this and assembling the videos for us.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on July 18, 2019:
Thank you so much for returning to watch the videos, Roberta. I love them all, which is why I chose them. I'm glad to hear that you like them, too.
RTalloni on July 18, 2019:
The music was amazing, some of it very beautiful, brightening a long day! Thank you for posting those selections and inspiring us to search out more.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on July 17, 2019:
Thanks for the comment, Roberta. I hope you enjoy the videos. I think the music is interesting.
RTalloni on July 17, 2019:
Such a neat look at this instrument. The seemingly awkward Petzo(?) recorders in the first video are delightfully so. Enjoyed learning more about recorders and am looking forward to listening to each of the other videos throughout this day.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 06, 2019:
Thank you for commenting, Thelma. Some members of the recorder family are unusual, but I think they can produce lovely music.
Thelma Alberts from Germany on May 06, 2019:
I am not aware of some of these instruments. The music are good. Listening to this kind of music reminds me of my childhood days.
Very interesting and informative article. Thanks for sharing.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 02, 2019:
Thank you very much for the comment and for sharing another meaning of consort, Manatita.
manatita44 from london on May 02, 2019:
A cute Scottish feel to some of the music and again some of the instruments are huge! very informative piece and I like your usual care to breaking down words. A Consort is also a spiritual or feminine Shakti in spiritual circles. Someone who tends to be by the side of the Master and helps with the mission. A kind of Mary Magdalene, perhaps.
Ours is a musical path also and many have and play recorders. Beautiful piece!
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 26, 2019:
Hi, Chitrangada. I appreciate your comment very much. I'll investigate the instrument that you've mentioned. I always enjoy exploring wind instruments.
Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on April 26, 2019:
Excellent article about these wonderful musical instruments.
They produce such melodious sound. I am not sure, but I think, they are a complex form of flutes or bansuri, as it’s called here.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful information.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 25, 2019:
Hi, Eman. I'm glad to hear about another recorder fan! I think it's a lovely instrument, too.
Eman Abdallah Kamel from Egypt on April 25, 2019:
Thank you, Linda, for this interesting and useful article about the recorder. The recorder is a musical instrument that is unique and I love it so much.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 08, 2019:
Hi, Adrienne. Thanks for the visit. I wish more people knew about the recorder family. Playing a recorder can be very enjoyable.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 08, 2019:
Thanks for the comment, Dianna. I'm glad you enjoyed the music. I once thought that school soprano recorders were all that existed. I'm very glad that I discovered the other types!
Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST from USA on April 08, 2019:
I wasn't aware of such an instrument going by that name, so interesting! Now, that I think about it though, I think my sister had one many years ago. The pictures of these flutes look familiar.
Dianna Mendez on April 08, 2019:
The sound from these recorders is amazing! I enjoyed the music immensely. Thanks for bringing my attention to this instrument. I have to say that I thought they only existed as those plastic pieces we had to play in fifth grade. Amazing, just simply amazing!
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 07, 2019:
Thank you very much for the visit and the kind comment, Genna.
Genna Eastman from Massachusetts, USA on April 07, 2019:
Hi Linda...
Your articles are always so interesting! And well researched and presented. This one focuses on one of my favorite themes -- music. The recorder is a delightful flute all its own -- from soft and warm tones, to bright and strident -- it's music is a delight.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 02, 2019:
Hi, Liz. It’s interesting that so many types of recorders exist. I’d like to try playing all of them.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 02, 2019:
Hi, Bill. Yes, the large and square recorders are very impressive. It would be interesting to try playing them!
Bill De Giulio from Massachusetts on April 02, 2019:
Very interesting Linda. My only experience with this instrument was as a kid with what was probably a plastic version. Those large square recorders are amazing. And I can't believe how large some of them are in the Royal Wind Music performance. Fascinating.
Liz Westwood from UK on April 02, 2019:
When I was at primary school, recorders were the 'go to' instrument for children to learn to play in the UK. By secondary I came across those who played other types of recorder. But your article takes the recorder to another level for me.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Hi, Heidi. I think it's great when children begin the process of learning how to play an instrument. It's a shame that it sometimes gives recorders a bad name, though. Like you, I think the recorder in all its forms is a lovely instrument. I think that technology is cool, too!
Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on April 01, 2019:
Oh gosh! I remember those darned plastic recorders. Luckily, my dad was a musician and had the wood ones which were definitely lovely.
Good recorder music always reminds me of medieval times for some reason. I especially like Orlan Charles' "ensemble." Ain't technology cool?
Thanks for sharing an in-depth look at this simple and simply beautiful insrument!
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Hi, Mel. The soprano recorder is a strange instrument. It can sound so good or so bad, depending on the situation!
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Thank you very much for the comment and for sharing the interesting information, Patty.
Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on April 01, 2019:
I was one of those skeptical about the recorder, I confess, having cringed my way through a couple of dissonant elementary school concerts. Thanks for educating me about the recorder's real value.
Patty Inglish MS from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on April 01, 2019:
We did not have recorders as kids but we had noisy harmonicas! Lol
Anyway, i think the recorder became the natve woooden flute in Korea, Japan, and the one i've played - Eastern Woodlands Natve America.
The players and narratve in your article are talented, joyous, and make me want to play again!
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Yes, I think some people would be surprised by the recorder’s abilities! It’s an interesting instrument.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Hi, Bill. I think it’s an interesting instrument, too. It’s very versatile.
Elaina Baker from USA on April 01, 2019:
It’s hard to believe this is the same instrument as the one the kids play in elementary school! Thanks for sharing this information.
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on April 01, 2019:
There was a time during the 60's when a lot of rock bands experimented with the recorder. It's a pretty interesting instrument, and I loved these facts about it.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 01, 2019:
Hi, Vellur. I love the Woodpeckers group, too. The shrillness can be avoided by buying a good instrument and learning how to play it properly. It may help to buy one of the larger recorders than the soprano one. These have a more mellow tone.
Nithya Venkat from Dubai on March 31, 2019:
The recorder sounds a little shrill but the pieces I heard sound lovely. I loved the Woodpeckers group, they sound great. I have heard the recorder before but did not know there were different types, thank you for sharing.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 31, 2019:
Thanks, Larry. I appreciate your visit and comment.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 31, 2019:
Thank you for the comment and for sharing your experience, Pamela. My sister learned how to play the recorder in school, but I never did. I'm glad that I eventually decided to learn how to play the instrument.
Larry Slawson from North Carolina on March 31, 2019:
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing, Linda!
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on March 31, 2019:
When I was in gr, and ammer school we had recorders and I think they were probably plastic. I really liked the Irish music and most of the others as well.
This was a very interesting article about the recorders, and it has brought back some old memories as well. Grammer school was quite different in those days, and I think I had a better education then children get today unfortunately. Thanks for giving us so much historical information.
Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 31, 2019:
Thank you very much, Jackie. I'm glad you enjoyed the music.
Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on March 31, 2019:
I enjoyed this so much, Linda. So many and all very easy to listen to. Thank you.
