Paetzold Recorder

Photo: June 14, 2016

Our recorder orchestra, Flutissimo,  had our last encounter of the season, which is really the first encounter to get ready for the next season. Music was distributed to practise over the summer. Above you can see the lowest recorder in our group, a contrabass by Paetzold (the lowest note is an F an octave and a half below middle C).



And the view from the other side. We jokingly call it an IKEA recorder because it looks like something that was made to be self-assembled. These recorders, while costing less than traditional recorders, still have a lovely sound. You can hear them below in a recorder consort.



Quinta Essentia Recorder playing Chaconne des Africains by Lully

The recorder family is made up instruments in C (the bottom note of the recorder) and in F. There are other recorders, but they are found less often in recorder orchestras. I have a recorder in D which works well when playing duets with a baroque flute (which just happens to be what my spouse plays).



This picture was taken several years ago and includes a number of my instruments. From smallest and highest pitch on the left to the largest and lowest pitch, they alternate from C to F instruments. The Paetzold contrabass would be the next one (though it is not my recorder) in the line and lower than my large C or great bass. To give you an idea of the range, the lowest note of the fourth recorder from the left, the tenor, is middle C. Each instrument plays 2 octaves easily with possibilities in the third octave. When I carry all these with me to rehearsal I am quite loaded down!

At a Rehearsal

Anyone who has been reading my blog knows that I play in a recorder orchestra: Flutissimo. We have a concert coming up on May 29. Last night's rehearsal was our penultimate one before the concert. Many notes, lots of detailed work, but we're getting there.

A Belated Happy Birthday to Telemann

My spouse and I play duets together. Telemann is one of our favourite composers to play - all his flute duets are well crafted and they provide equal challenges in both lines. I play the voice flute (a recorder in D - above) and my spouse plays the traverso, or baroque flute. It is made of wood and only has one key, unlike the modern flute. The books above represent only some of the sonatas we play by Telemann. And, though we tackle music by other composers as well, we always come back to Telemann.

Telemann's birthday was on March 14. He was an incredibly prolific composer and publisher. Many of his works were aimed at amateurs. The burgeoning middle class was the perfect target as they had the funds to buy music and instruments and the time in the evenings to play music together.

Great Bass

Great Bass, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The Montreal Recorder Society holds a concert day each year. Each of the groups perform and members who play in small ensembles that get together on their own also play. The group I play in, Flutissimo performed. Our main spring concert will be in late May. Pictured here is my great bass recorder. When it is assembled it is close to my height (a paltry 5 feet when I exaggerate slightly). Because of its length, you need to attach a tube (bocal) to blow into it. You can see the top of my friend's recorder here (his recorder is the same make).

One thing I like about playing the recorder is that I get to play many different recorders. This gives the opportunity to play different voices in a piece and to understand the different roles of the different voices. Sometimes I play the higher voices, often the melody line; sometimes I love the feeling of playing the low voices - the support for the piece. And sometimes I really enjoy playing Renaissance music, where all voices are fairly equal - so the technical challenges are similar.

Music is a Beautiful Thing

Music is a Beautiful Thing, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Sunday
Notes on a page don't mean a lot until you let them come alive through voice or instruments. Today I played this sonata by Handel with a friend playing the continuo line on her cello (with one of her cats playing the audience).

                

What a treat to find the music in the notes, the sense of elegance and joy. The instruments carry on a conversation, sometimes supporting each other, sometimes answering each other. It is a challenge to find what the composer wanted to say and at the same time to add something of yourself in the playing.

Daily Shoot: Celebrate the pretty things in life. Make a photograph of the most beautiful thing you see today.

Day 8 Homage to Telemann

Day 8 Homage to Telemann, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Music - an essential part of my life.
A baroque flute and voice flute (recorder in D) sit drying after a session of playing. Telemann looks down with the hint of a smile. His music has come down to us from the past and still feels fresh in the present. Telemann still lives through all whom he has and continues to touch.
As teachers we touch people every day through our words and actions. Will some small thing we have done get passed on and touch others? Will the music of our craft continue to be heard?