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I hope the recorder makes a comeback. It is a criminally-underused instrument like a vertical flute. Recorders can actually be played faster than flutes (as f

I hope the recorder makes a comeback. It is a criminally-underused instrument like a vertical flute. Recorders can actually be played faster than flutes (as far as I have heard), and they are much more ergonomic. Too bad their reputation is tied to being a first instrument taught in schools in the US

tomcam 4y ago
But modern flutes just have a much wider range of sounds to me. Far more expressive IMHO
Tokkemon 4y ago
That's not why they fell out of style, though. The main reason is they're difficult to play well (at least compared to the modern flute), and they aren't loud enough. Recorders can't compete against other woodwinds or orchestral instruments, they would just be buried.
- bvm 4y ago
  > they aren't loud enough you clearly have not heard my child playing the recorder.
- JasonFruit 4y ago
  There have been experiments to increase the volume and flexibility of the recorder, e.g. Mollenhauer's Modern Recorder[0], sometimes called the Harmonic Recorder. [0]: https://www.mollenhauer.com/en/catalog/recorders/series-overview/modern-soprano-alto https://www.mollenhauer.com/en/catalog/recorders/series-over...
- mvidal01 4y ago
  What are the reasons for the invention of the modern flute was also to make a louder instrument.
tsm 4y ago
In addition to the difficulties described by Tokkemon, recorders have much less control over volume than transverse flutes do.
jefftk 4y ago
A recorder, like a tin whistle and other fipple flutes, 'automates' the embouchure. That is, instead of you positioning your lips to direct air across the sharp edge that begins the vibration a fixed bit of material is doing it for you. The reason to do this is so that lip position is no longer important. I can play these instruments, but I've never put in the time to get a good sound from a non-fipple flute. This is also why they're used in schools: you can immediately make a sound, just by blowing naturally. But in moving the musician farther from the creation of the sound they also have less control over it. You can't really manipulate pitch and volume independently, and there are many more subtle tone choices available without a fipple. This is one of the key trade-offs in designing a musical instrument. I wrote more about it in a 2012 post: https://www.jefftk.com/p/instrument-complexity-and-automation https://www.jefftk.com/p/instrument-complexity-and-automatio...

tomcam 4y ago

But modern flutes just have a much wider range of sounds to me. Far more expressive IMHO

Tokkemon 4y ago

That's not why they fell out of style, though. The main reason is they're difficult to play well (at least compared to the modern flute), and they aren't loud enough. Recorders can't compete against other woodwinds or orchestral instruments, they would just be buried.

bvm 4y ago
> they aren't loud enough you clearly have not heard my child playing the recorder.
JasonFruit 4y ago
There have been experiments to increase the volume and flexibility of the recorder, e.g. Mollenhauer's Modern Recorder[0], sometimes called the Harmonic Recorder. [0]: https://www.mollenhauer.com/en/catalog/recorders/series-overview/modern-soprano-alto https://www.mollenhauer.com/en/catalog/recorders/series-over...
mvidal01 4y ago
What are the reasons for the invention of the modern flute was also to make a louder instrument.

tsm 4y ago

In addition to the difficulties described by Tokkemon, recorders have much less control over volume than transverse flutes do.

jefftk 4y ago

A recorder, like a tin whistle and other fipple flutes, 'automates' the embouchure. That is, instead of you positioning your lips to direct air across the sharp edge that begins the vibration a fixed bit of material is doing it for you. The reason to do this is so that lip position is no longer important. I can play these instruments, but I've never put in the time to get a good sound from a non-fipple flute. This is also why they're used in schools: you can immediately make a sound, just by blowing naturally. But in moving the musician farther from the creation of the sound they also have less control over it. You can't really manipulate pitch and volume independently, and there are many more subtle tone choices available without a fipple. This is one of the key trade-offs in designing a musical instrument. I wrote more about it in a 2012 post: https://www.jefftk.com/p/instrument-complexity-and-automation https://www.jefftk.com/p/instrument-complexity-and-automatio...