Recorders

[Leeza]

What type of recorder do you prefer for performances?  Also, do you use a soprano, alto or tenor? Just curious

[Andrew McKee]

Well, it depends on the performance.  First of all, there is a sound difference between a wooden recorder and a plastic one.  To say one sounds better than another is an apples and oranges thing so lets just say they are different.  I have several wooden recorders varying in price from $25 to $150.  A good wooden one works well for a performance as long as the temperature, humidity, and other weather factors cooperate.  Lets just say this rarely happens with any consistency so I tend to go with plastic recorders.

I currently prefer the Zen-On Stanesby, Jr. 150W soprano which has a woodgrain finish so from a slight distance, it looks like wood.  It has a beautiful tone that, although different from wood, sounds quite nice.  Tuning-wise it is almost perfect.  About the best you can get from a plastic recorder.  I do have the Zen-On alto and it is on the Memories of Middle Earth CD on a couple of songs.  Mostly though I play the soprano.  The Zen-On soprano is modelled after an 18th century recorder made by Thomas Stanesby, Jr. in England.  As an alternative, there are some Yamaha models that are very good but I just tried a Zen-On and loved it. 

I'll get a Yamaha soon and try it but it is not always a good idea to use different recorders.  The locations of the holes are slightly different as are the way you breathe for the notes.  It is very slight in difference and you would only notice if you were past beginner but if you get comfortable playing songs on one recorder, if you have to switch to a different model/brand, flubs are probably a-coming.  It is especially rough in the third octave.  Marc has seen this happen and laments when I have to bring out a sub.  I broke my Zen-On recently and could not find my backup.  At ICON on Long Island, I used a wooden one I had and although it sounded great, there were a few notes I had to work hard for.  *grin*  I found my backup when I got back so all is well.

Andrew McKee
Brobdingnagian Bards

[muzikanka]

I do have the Zen-On alto and it is on the Memories of Middle Earth CD on a couple of songs. 

So that's why a couple songs sounded so different.  I couldn't put my finger on it, but now I realize it was the lower recorder sounds.  Danke.