JapanAxe Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I’ve been listening to Bowie’s song The London Boys recently, and the clarinet intro got me thinking about playing it on recorder. I have a couple of chewed-up (literally!) descants that I rarely touch but a lower compass would be better. I started looking at stuff on YouTube about tenor recorders and I’m quite taken with the idea of getting one. I read music and I already know the notes in the first octave so I would have a bit of a start. Recommendations picked up so far are for Yamaha or Aulos with baroque fingering. I have long fingers so could probably manage keyless. Any BCers admit to playing one of these, or maybe have a significant other who does? Top tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 FWIW I have an Aulos and Yamaha descants and altos, the Aulos sound slightly warmer to me, but they play the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 7 hours ago, paul_5 said: FWIW I have an Aulos and Yamaha descants and altos, the Aulos sound slightly warmer to me, but they play the same. Cheers Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 I find I prefer the Aulos. I used to play a lot and was quite good I have both the descant and tenor though I don't play as much since I lost the tip of my left thumb which make playing the top notes a bit awkward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted January 14, 2022 Author Share Posted January 14, 2022 12 hours ago, dave moffat said: I find I prefer the Aulos. I used to play a lot and was quite good I have both the descant and tenor though I don't play as much since I lost the tip of my left thumb which make playing the top notes a bit awkward. Cheers, any thoughts on keyed or keyless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted January 14, 2022 Author Share Posted January 14, 2022 12 hours ago, dave moffat said: I find I prefer the Aulos. I used to play a lot and was quite good I have both the descant and tenor though I don't play as much since I lost the tip of my left thumb which make playing the top notes a bit awkward. Cheers, any thoughts on keyed or keyless? Edit: also ‘ouch’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Never considered keyed, though tenor can be a bit of a stretch to begin with. I suppose it's a bit like fretting a bass and your hands stretch with time and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 The Aulos ones are a bit warmer sounding but seem to need a lot of puff. The Yamaha's have a nice narrow air way so use less breath, more like decent wooden recorders ( you have to spend £400 or more to better the yammy imo) though they do clog with spit more than the Aulos. I have one of each knocking about (alto/treble not tenor mind). Go keyed I'd say .. just easier to cover the hole properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I have a Yamaha and my hands are not large. Both the Yamaha and the Aulos are sufficiently good that you'd need to spend decent money to get a better wooden one. For wooden ones, the Early Music Shop has a big choice. https://earlymusicshop.com/collections/recorders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 8 hours ago, NickA said: The Aulos ones are a bit warmer sounding but seem to need a lot of puff. The Yamaha's have a nice narrow air way so use less breath, more like decent wooden recorders ( you have to spend £400 or more to better the yammy imo) though they do clog with spit more than the Aulos. I have one of each knocking about (alto/treble not tenor mind). Go keyed I'd say .. just easier to cover the hole properly. 6 hours ago, zbd1960 said: I have a Yamaha and my hands are not large. Both the Yamaha and the Aulos are sufficiently good that you'd need to spend decent money to get a better wooden one. For wooden ones, the Early Music Shop has a big choice. https://earlymusicshop.com/collections/recorders Thanks both. I had put this on the back burner until the new financial year - tax deductible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I had a £450 pallisander wood alto from the early music shop. Sounded lovely but it was never quite in tune and was really hard to get the bottom note out of. Sold intending to get a Rosewood Moek Rottenburgh. Never did. Still have the placky yammy. I'm told the zen-on bressan plastics are very good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Just cruising the threads and this popped up. Played bass and drums for ever...Played violin at school but packed it in for Punk, (can still read ok) Decided two yrs ago at 61 its time to get back into classical so got myself a Yammie tenor recorder (other half has played on off for yrs) ....Hard to start with but huge fun and a re-freshing change from playing rythmn. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 I just dug out a few recorders from my junk, a couple of kids descant plastic things and an old wooden Treble. The treble was, in history, I believe the main instrument of the set ,and much music in the 1600s and 1700s that specified "flute" actually meant recorder rather than the thing we now call a flute. I worked out how to play "finger of fudge" just now 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 Yes, "flute a bec" is a recorder. The 'transverse flute' which is what we understand by the word 'flute' didn't really take off until the C18th. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 I've got some CDs of Telemann with quite a bit of recorder content, some nice bits in Purcell too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_dinger Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 I do like me a bit of nice recorder music - I find that I prefer the dry woody tone of the recorder to the saccharine sweet sound of a flute. Vivaldi composed a fair bit for the instrument - ironic, given that he was employed by a school as their music teacher. How did schools get from Vivaldi writing virtuoso ensemble pieces for orchestra and recorder, and children playing London's Burning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 54 minutes ago, bass_dinger said: I do like me a bit of nice recorder music - I find that I prefer the dry woody tone of the recorder to the saccharine sweet sound of a flute. Vivaldi composed a fair bit for the instrument - ironic, given that he was employed by a school as their music teacher. How did schools get from Vivaldi writing virtuoso ensemble pieces for orchestra and recorder, and children playing London's Burning. Vivaldi was I believe a priest, and his pupils were resident girls from a convent, I guess they focused and devoted quite a bit of time on music both church and secular Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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