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Twin Cities Recorder Guild |
| The Minnesota chapter of the American Recorder Society | |
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Resources: About Us:
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Q: How can I get my recorder repaired? A: In the Twin Cities, first check with Alan Kolderie: akolderie@msn.com or 651-698-7710. Otherwise your best bet is the manufacturer; for instance if it is Moeck, check their web site. A popular site to send recorders to is The
Von Huene Workshop (service@vonhuene.com).
Q: What is a recorder and how did it get its name?
Recorders are made in a number of sizes: Garklein, Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Great Bass, Contra Bass, and Sub Contra Bass. The first known use of the name "recorder" is in the 1388 Earl of Darby's (later King Henry IV) household accounts. Henry received as a gift a “recordour” from Italy. The word was Anglicized to “recorder” and is based on "Re" (back) and "cor" (heart or mind) meaning "to bring back to mind". It was a rememberer, a relator. Minstrels moved around the country doing just that, thus a minstrel and a musical instrument were both recorders. The instrument was popular in Renaissance musical life up to the time that the modern flute was introduced. The recorder works best with small intimate settings and didn't work well with large orchestras. Thus, it became less popular until reintroduced in the 1950s as an inexpensive instrument that could be easily carried. Millions of students' first learning experience in music is on the recorder. Many adults come back the instrument to pursue playing in small groups. Many come to the instrument through a love of early music. |
