What to look for when you choose a recorder
The forty or so participants at the Welcome Cocktail on August 29 enjoyed a very interesting discussion between the five directors of the practice groups on this subject. Here are the main points of the discussion.
Finding the perfect match. It is important to find a recorder that you enjoy playing. It should be easy to play in the low notes and in the high notes. It should feel like it was made for your hands and should produce a sound that you like – you have to feel like you are falling in love! Like in love, not everyone – or everything – is a perfect match; you sometimes have to admit defeat with one instrument and look at a different one. Before buying, be sure to test all the notes, particularly the octaves. Bring a friend who will be able to advise you on the quality of the sound.
Wood or plastic? It’s better to have a good plastic recorder than a low quality wooden recorder. Plastic recorders are getting better and better and it is generally easier to produce the full range of notes on a plastic recorder. They require little maintenance and can be played for a long time, unlike wooden recorders which becomes saturated with water and blocked. The main drawback to plastic recorders is the condensation which is produced on contact with warm humid breath; plastic changes temperature more readily than wood and thus is more subject to problems with condensation. Thus, it’s not ideal for concerts, but it is good for practices.
Which wood should you choose? Maple, rosewood, boxwood…each has its own sound, and each its own useful lifespan. Maple has a pleasant sound, but its low density makes it more fragile. Boxwood and rosewood (palisander) are woods which produce a rich sound and which are very durable. Of course, it is still necessary to test the recorder! Wooden recorders must always be broken in, even if they come “pre-broken in”. And they should always be heated in the hand before playing so that they don’t crack. They must be oiled according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wood is a living material, so wooden recorders may need to be revoiced after a full year of exposure to changes in temperature and humidity. There may be a panel discussion on this subject in the future. One last point for travelers: always take your recorders in the cabin with you, and learn about restrictions on importing and exporting wood.
If the purchase of a recorder marks the beginning of a beautiful relationship, our panel discussion marks the beginning of an excellent season! There are anniversaries in the air.
Anniversaries all around. The 2018-2019 season marks various anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of Flutissimo, which will be celebrated with concerts in September and November, a Sons and Brioches concert in December and a gala concert in June; the 10th anniversary of Flûte Alors!, which will be celebrated with the Recorder Rendezvous, a joint activity with the Montreal Recorder Society on September 30; and the 30 year anniversary of Ensemble Caprice, which will be celebrated in an exciting concert season. At the same time Les Boréades are releasing a disk of the opera Nicandro e Fileno. Finally, for the MRS season, it was noted that the dance-music workshop, the interpretation workshop, and the techniques workshop are all back on the program.
Photos of the event are on the Facebook page.
