The Musical Recorder
From the Middle Ages to the Present
With a history that dates back to the 14th century, the musical recorder, which belongs to the woodwind family of musical instruments, has often been described as a flute with a mouthpiece. Known both for its flute-like sound and being relatively easy to learn, it remains a common choice among schools and novice musicians. Indeed, many people’s first experience with musical instruments begins with a recorder before they move onto more advanced instruments such as the clarinet or the oboe.
Musical Recorder in History
While the recorder traces its roots back to the Middle Ages in Europe, it didn’t really take off until the period from the 15th through the 18th centuries. Indeed, the recorder reached its heyday during the Baroque period.
Initially, recorders were the province of royalty as a hobby for both kings and queens. Although music written for the recorder before 1500 no longer exists, historians point to paintings from the 1300s in which angels are depicted playing a recorder, usually surrounding the Virgin Mary, as evidence of its popularity. In all likelihood, early recorders played vocal music while instrumental music for dancing arrived a bit little later.
During the 1500s, however, sheet music became available to commoners, albeit wealthy ones. As a result, the recorder was produced for sale to the public. Even as it entered the mainstream, the recorder was still considered a serious instrument and would eventually become one of the most important wind instruments of the Renaissance. Indeed, Henry VIII of England, who would achieve great fame for other reasons, was an avid amateur player. A few decades later, William Shakespeare referenced the recorder in his most renowned play, Hamlet.
As the 17th century got underway, changes were made which differentiated the newer Baroque recorders from earlier Renaissance versions. During the Baroque period, art and literature often linked the recorder to pastoral scenes and momentous events such as marriages and funerals. One of the biggest changes, however, was the introduction of a standard size for the instrument.
Nevertheless, the recorder declined from popular usage during the 18th century and 19th centuries. Although historians still aren't sure exactly why it fell out of favor, many suggest that flutes and clarinets took its place because of their added sound and range. A few composers, however, continued to write music for the recorder.
20th Century Revival
During the early part of the 20th century, a revival of the recorder as a serious musical instrument occurred. Interestingly, musicians used antique recorders until people eventually started manufacturing them again, usually modeled on the earlier, Baroque versions.
Recorders in Schools
Coupled with its rise among musicians, the recorder became popular as a teaching instrument for schools during the latter half of the 20th century. Many people credit its widespread use in North American classrooms to a German composer named Carl Orff. In the early 1950s, he published a series of volumes called Music for Children, which are still popular with teachers today. His goal was to encourage young children to express themselves through music. For this reason, he chose instruments that did not require a high skill level initially.
A recorder is a great learning tool because it doesn't require special technique. A child merely has to put his or her fingers in the right position and breathe into it to create sound. As a result, Orff could start children off with nursery rhymes and simple exercises before trying songs that demand more range. Because of its early success, Orff’s system eventually expanded beyond its beginnings in Europe to the U.S., Canada, Korea, Australia and New Zealand among many other nations.
In the 1960s, recorders got another boost in popularity when they were produced on a much larger scale with plastic instead of the traditional wooden model. Consequently, they became much more affordable for both schools and parents.
Famous Names and the Recorder
Due to its enduring popularity, the recorder enjoys a fascinating history, which takes us from the late medieval period up to the present day. Indeed, some of the biggest names in music have written works for the recorder over the centuries including J.S. Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, Georg Philipp Telemann, Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Handel, and Leonard Bernstein.
It has even shown up in popular music in the last few decades in acts as varied as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed and Dido
In Conclusion
Beyond its storied history, however, one of the recorder's primary benefits is that enables students to make a smooth transition to other instruments such as the piano or the saxophone or other wind instruments. In addition, engaging with music early helps children develop self-confidence, which usually translates into stronger academic performance. By reading music and other learning material developed for the recorder, children develop a love of music and the many benefits it brings throughout their entire lives.