Recorder News

Alicia Crossley awarded Australia Council's ArtStart Grant

Alicia Crossley — Sun, 5 May 2013 18:20:57 +0800

Recorder player Alicia Crossley has been awarded the Australia Council's ArtStart Grant for 2013. Alicia performs a wide variety of music from renaaissance to contemporary electro-acoustic works. She has a particular interest in the repertoire for bass recorder.

The Merrie Pipers, Kelowna’s Recorder Orchestra (Canada) launches its web-site

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 09:25:08 +0800

The Merrie Pipers, Kelowna's Recorder Orchestra, (BC, Canada) has launched its web-site here. We play compositions ranging from the Renaissance period to contemporary. We use several sizes of recorder - sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, contrabass, and Paetzold square bass. We practice weekly at Missionwood Retirement Resort on Barnes Road, Kelowna.

Stolen Recorders: Can You Help?

fia_nelson@hotmail.com — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:28:38 +0800

Have you seen these stolen recorders?

An alto Moeck 'Stanseby' recorder at A=440 Hz in antiqued Castello boxwood, in three pieces, with double holes and English fingering was stolen on a train travelling between Sweden and Denmark on Thursday 26t July 2012 between 11.30–12.00 am. It was newly oiled and revoiced just a couple of days earlier by "Backe" and that stamp might be on the block – he doesn't remember if he stamped it or not. The tenons are wound with red thread and dental floss. In the same Cavallaro case with 13 pockets there was also a Yamaha tenor in white and black plastic and a Moeck 'Rottenburgh' sopranino in maple.

Sofia Nelson would be grateful for any information about the whereabouts of these instruments. She can be contacted via email or by phone on +46 (0) 736-701771.

Wildwuchs 2012

kontakt@reiner-luebbers.de — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:23:34 +0800

Spielst du Blockflöte? Hast du Spaß daran, eigene Sachen auszuprobieren? Hast du Lust, deine eigene Musik einem größeren Publikum vorzustellen? Dann bewirb dich jetzt bei WILDWUCHS 2012! Wir sind auf der Suche nach kreativen BlockflötistInnen mit neuen Ideen. Eure Stücke sollen aus dem Bereich Rock/Pop/Jazz sein, aber auch Grenzüberschreitungen in andere Stilrichtungen sind erlaubt. Spielt die Stücke, wie es euch gefällt, und wie es vielleicht andere nicht machen. Wichtig ist uns ein eigener kreativer Umgang mit der Musik. Ob eigenes Arrangement, Improvisation oder sogar eine eigene Komposition, alles ist erwünscht. Ob als Solist, mit Begleitung, als reines Blockflötenensemble, gemischte Besetzung oder mit Band: Zeigt, was in der Blockflöte steckt!

Recorder maker Francesco Li Virghi launches his web-site.

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:46:27 +0800

Italian recorder maker Francesco Li Virghi has launched his own web-site which contains details, images, sound clips and video clips of his work as well as a number of informative articles.

New Database: Where to Study the Recorder

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:28:32 +0800

A new database of institutions and organisations world-wide which provide recorder tuition at tertiary level has been added to this web-site. It is comprehensive and multi-lingual making it easy to locate relevant music schools, colleges, conservatories and universities world-wide. For convenience a number of pre-formed searches are available.

Stolen Recorders

dan@danlaurin.com — Sat, 3 Dec 2011 17:26:44 +0800

Two recorders belonging to Dan Laurin were stolen November 20th in Stockholm at the Royal Academy of Music.

Grenadilla alto in 415, single holes, Morgan/Ronimus
Grenadilla alto in 443, with Ivory imitation, Takeyama

Anyone hearing something about this, please contact dan@danlaurin.com

New Recording: How Happy for the Little Birds

laoiseobrien@yahoo.co.uk — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:17:19 +0800

Irish recorder player Louise O'Brien has released her first CD, How Happy for the Little Birds, which brings the listener through a year of birdsong with tunes from Ireland, England and beyond. The birds featured on the CD are mostly common to Ireland and Britain. Laoise is joined by some of Ireland's leading musicians in a unique mixing of styles.

Inês d'Avena & Claudio Ribeiro win 2nd prize at Premio Bonporti 2011

Lotus — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:18:28 +0800

The duo LOTUS (Inês d'Avena & Claudio Ribeiro) won the 2nd prize of the Premio Bonporti XI International Chamber Music Competition in in Rovereto, Italy, on 21-23 October 2011. In its 16th and final year, the awards of this prestigious international chamber music competition were voted by the public present at the finals.

New CD: Nell' autunno di bisanzio - Guillaume Du Fay zwischen Orient und Okzident

Dimitris Kountouras — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 12:08:03 +0800

Under the title The Fall of Byzantium this CD presents music from Italy, France and Byzantium during the first half of the century, featuring works by Guillaume Dufay and composers of his period, Johannes Legrant, Beltram Feragut, Manual Chrysaffis.

Notey, real-time music detection and transcription software, released by Hila Schmuel

Hila — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:46:59 +0800

Real-time music detection and transcription software, freeware from Hila Schmuel, is no available. Sit next to the computer microphone, play your recorder, and the notes will apear on the music sheet, in real time. You can also open a music notes file (in ABC format), and start to play and like in GuitarHero, you will be able to see the notes you should play and if you had played them correctly, again, in real-time!

Book on Jacob van Eyck an his contemporaries by Thiemo Wind to be published in August

Sat, 6 Aug 2011 22:19:23 +0800

Thiemo Wind's new book "Jacob van Eyck and the Others - Dutch Solo Repertoire for Recorder in the Golden Age" is to be published in August. The compositions from "Der Fluyten Lust-hof" bear unmistakable witness to Jacob van Eyck’s own virtuosity: Utrecht’s blind municipal carillonneur played his recorder variations on summer evenings in the Janskerkhof, the St. John’s churchyard. In the present book the repertoire is scrutinized from a variety of perspectives: sources, transmission, interpretation, and the boundaries between improvisation and composition, to name but a few. A revealing section of this study is Chapter 5, which explores the relationship between Van Eyck’s recorder and carillon practices. In order to place Van Eyck’s oeuvre in a broader context, the author has chosen to extend the scope of his research to include comparable works by Dutch contemporaries (Paulus Matthijsz, Jacob van Noordt, Johan Dicx and Pieter de Vois), from the anthologies Der Goden Fluit-hemel and ’t Uitnemend Kabinet. Inclusion of these ‘others’ avoids presenting Van Eyck as a lone figure: he was, after all, a child of his time. The last four chapters focus on various aspects of performance practice, including instruments, time, ornamentation and delivery. The future of this repertoire is entrusted not to musicologists but primarily to performers themselves. It is on them that Jacob van Eyck – and ‘the others - will have to rely.

Csakans made once more by Bernhard Mollenhauer

Sat, 6 Aug 2011 17:49:38 +0800

Recorder maker Bernhard Mollenhauer is now making csakans (a keyed recorder) after Johann Ziegler (1792-1852). The csakan was especially popular, during the Biedermeier period (ca. 1815-1848), and has an extensive repertoire.

Don Cowell Memorial Trust Open Recorder Competition, Melbourne

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:59:50 +0800

Sydney recorder players Alana Blackburn and Alicia Crossley were joint winners of the Don Cowell Memorial Trust Open Recorder Competition held in Melbourne in July 2011.

More Hispano have just released Glossas, their latest CD

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:09:15 +0800

Spanish ensemble More Hispano have just released Glosas, their third, much awaited CD featuring original and unpublished improvisatory material.

Medieval recorder found in Nysa, Poland

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:30:00 +0800

Yet another medieval recorder has come to light. This one has been in the Muzeum in Nysa, Poland since it was discovered after the Second World War. It dates from the 14th century. This brings the number of unambiguous surviving medieval recorders to six; all come from northern Europe.

Vale, Brian Bonsor

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:13:13 +0800

Brian Bonsor, music teacher, composer and recorder player who enjoyed a key role in the musical life of Scotland, has died aged 84 on 22 February 2011. He founded the Roxburgh Recorder Players in 1961 and was appointed Director of the National Society of Recorder Players in 1967. He was a founder and director of the National Recorder School of Scotland, and conducted the Border Orchestra (1963-1966) and the Roxburgh Singers (1971-1982). He was appointed MBE for services to music teaching in 2002.

Vale, Gerd Lünenbürger, German recorder player and teacher (1958-2010)

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:13:13 +0800

On Wednesday 27th October 2010 at 1 pm, Gerd Lünenbürger died in Bern surrounded by his closest friends. He was suffering from an incurable disease, amyotropic lateral sclerosis.

Inês d'Avena wins the II Concorso Internazionale Principe Francesco Maria Ruspoli

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:02:00 +0800

Brasilian recorder player Inês d'Avena was this year's winner of the II Concorso Internazionale Principe Francesco Maria Ruspoli, which took place in Vignanello, Italy, on 2-3 October 2010. The competition was founded in 2009 by Princess Giada Ruspoli for the diffusion of Baroque aesthetics and re-affirms the long tradition of musical patronage started by the first Prince of Cerveteri. This year's sponsors were Mr Paulo Gala and his wife, Mrs Eliane de Castro. The jury comprised Kees Boeke (Artistic Director), Lorenzo Cavasanti, Mario Martinoli and Linde Brunmayr-Tutz and awarded a single instrumental prize.

Medal of Honour for Frans Brüggen

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:25:00 +0800

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has awarded Frans Brüggen the Medal of Honour for Arts and Sciences. The medal is given to individuals for exceptional achievement in the fields of art and science.

Canadian recorder-maker Bob Marvin has now has a web-site

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:25:00 +0800

Recorder maker Bob Marvin has recently launched a website.There is even a video interview with the man himself. It has been suggested that recorders with equal-tempered tuning and thumb-rests may soon emanate from Bob's workshop along with a series of rap videos!

More Hispano have just released Yr a oydo CD and new web-site

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:25:00 +0800

Spanish ensemble More Hispano have just released Yr a oydo, their latest, much awaited CD, devoted to improvisation in 16th & 17th century music, as well as a new web-site.

Erik Bosgraaf appointed professor at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:47:00 +0800

The Conservatorium of Amsterdam has a long tradition in professional recorder education with teachers like Frans Brüggen, Kees Boeke, Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts. Next season Erik will be touring Europe in the ECHO Rising Stars Series. The series was established by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) and Carnegie Hall New York. Among the European members are Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Barbican Centre, Kölner Philharmonie and the Athens Concert Hall.

Salut! Baroque release new CD

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:44:00 +0800

Outstanding Australian chamber music group Salut! Baroque have relased their latest CD, Italians Abroad, featuring the recorder playing of Sally Melluish and Emily Baines.

Vale, Dr Hermann Alexander Moeck

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:13:13 +0800

Dr Hermann Moeck passed away on 9 July 2010. Dr Moeck was Director of Moeck Musikinstrumente + Verlag, a leading German manufacturer of recorders and a music publisher, from 1960 until his retirement in 2002.

blockfluitist, a new Recorder Journal has been launched

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:55:00 +0800

A new journal devoted to the recorder has been launched, namely blokfluitist (in Dutch)

Vale, Mario Duschenes (1923-2009)

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 05:13:13 +0800

Flautist, reocorder player, conductor and teacher Mario Duschenes died peacefully in Montreal, QC, Canada, on 31 January 2009.

CD of new musc from Pamela Thorby released

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0800

AMMONITE is an album of new music for recorder, strings, marimba, keyboards, harp, guitar, bass and percussion composed and played by British recorder player Pamela Thorby. Pamela’s own compositions draw on elements of folk, jazz and classical traditions to create magical, engaging melodies: beautiful new recorder music with a lush backing of strings, marimba, harp, keyboard, guitars, bass and percussion.10% of the profits go to music charities, beginning with the educational and development work of the UK Society of Recorder Players.

Thesis on the use of the recorder in the operas of Reinhard Keiser (1674-1739)

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 20:41:00 +0800

Luckia Becker Carpena (State University of Campinas, Brasil) has completed her doctoral thesis which is now available online.

Vale, Ryohei Hirose (1930-2008)

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 05:13:13 +0800

Composer Ryohei Hirose passed away on 24 November 2008. His works for recorder include Potalaka, Karavinka, Mitsu no mai, Mitsu no uta, Lamentation, Meditation, Idyll 1, Tenral-Cbikyo, Topography, Kama, Hymn, Ode I, Ode II, Idyl Il, Aki, Aubade, Suite for Noble Cats, Dirge of Troja, Lamenta of Inca, Illusion of the Crescent. A biography may be found here.

Vale, Kees Otten

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 05:13:13 +0800

On Thursday 25 September 2008 Kees Otten passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Kees was not only the man who gave the first big push to the emancipation of the recorder in Holland, he also stood at the cradle of what is now named Historically Informed Performance Practice. He was founder member of quite a few ensembles, of which the most successful one was Syntagma Musicum, a group specializing in repertoire from the early Middle Ages until early Baroque. At least a dozen recordings were made with Syntagma Musicum, many of which received awards. Tours were made to The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and almost all European countries. Many people will remember the unique atmosphere Kees created during his concerts, by adding short witty comments in a deadpan manner. He was a welcome guest during countless Early Music summer courses and workshops. Not many people know that as a young musician he was at least as much busy with jazz music as with the earlier repertoire!.When Big Bill Broonzy visited Amsterdam somewhere in the late 1940s Kees was invited to join him in a few public jam sessions – on recorder! In that same period he appeared with the young Julian Bream playing music of some five centuries earlier. Apart from his wide range of musical preferences Kees was an avid reader and collector of literature, and he knew a great number of Dutch poems by heart. Kees Otten has been laid to rest in his beloved Amsterdam. We will miss him dearly. Notes by Pieter van Houwelingen

New CD featuring Pamela Thorby released

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:03:00 +0800

English virtuoso Pamela Thorby has released her latest recording with harpist Andrew Lawrence-King entitled Garden of Early Delights, Linn CDK 291, "a mixed bouquet of diverse, joyous, unusual and eloquent pieces from the renaissance and early baroque periods."

Duo Rara Avis (recorders & drums) is releasing its debut album with a series of concerts in March and April in the Netherlands

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 03:04:00 +0800

Duo Rara Avis (recorders and drums) is releasing its debut album with a series of concerts in March and April in the Netherlands, the duo's home base. (West) Canadian audiences get a preview: in February, the members of the duo are playing concerts in Vancouver and Victoria, both with different projects. Canadian recorder player/composer Terri Hron is playing with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, in a programme with early music pieces and pieces by herself. Dutch drummer Robbert van Hulzen is playing a number of improvisation gigs with musicians from the Vancouver scene. The album will be presented in the Netherlands with a number of concerts by the duo, on some occasions with guest musicians.

Christopher Orton wins 2007 Moeck/SRP International Solo recorder Competition

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:34:00 +0800

Christopher Orton has been awarded 1st prize in the 2007 Moeck/SRP International Solo Recorder Competition in Greenwich London. This is the first time a British player has won the competition since it became an international event, and also the first British winner since 1995.

Recorders Based on Historical Models: Fred Morgan – Writings and Memories

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 10:31:00 +0800

This book, compiled Gisela Rothe, is presented in homage to the Australianrecorder maker Frederick G. Morgan (1940–1999) who profoundly influenced the development of the early music movement and the quality of recorder making. It contains articles by 54 authors from 15 countries, including Fred Morgan’s own essays about recorder making and original instruments. Also includes new images of the Frans Brüggen recorder Collection. ISBN: 978-3-00-021216-1 (German); ISBN: 978-3-00-021215-4 (English).

Medieval recorder found in Elblag, Poland

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:34:00 +0800

Another medieval recorder has been found, this one in the old Hanseatic city Elblag (in former times Elbing) southeast from Danzig in Poland The instrument is intact and has been dated to the mid-15th century. This brings the number of unambiguous surviving medieval recorders to five; all come from northern Europe.

Multimedia CD Released with Erik Bosgraaf (recorder) and Izhar Elias (guitar)

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:53:00 +0800

The CD/DVD Big Eye (Phenom Records 0713) presents the fruits of a collaboration between a duo consisting of Erik Bosgraaf (recorder) and Izhar Elias (guitar), and several vibrant film makers and composers of today. This is placed alongside pieces by prominent twentieth-century classical composers including Toru Takemitsu and Giacinto Scelsi.

New Record Released to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Jacob van Eyck

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:45:00 +0800

A 3-CD-set with works by Jacob van Eyck (c1590-1657) whose 350th year of death will be commemorated this year. The recording is being released by Brilliant Classics, the world's largest budget label for classical music. This project was musicologically supervised by well-known Van Eyck expert Thiemo Wind and features the playing of Dutch virtuoso Erik Bosgraaf. Remarkably, it hit no.1 in the Dutch Classical Music Charts and 17th-century hits became 21st century hits!

Recorder Missing from Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 07:47:00 +0800

The Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, Australia has suffered the loss of a Yamaha bass recorder with two barrels, Model YRB61, Serial No. 03590. If you come across a suspect bass could you please check the serial number as the instrument is sorely missed. Please forward any information to the Conservatorium, tel. +61 (0)2 8365 2222 or to Carole Goodwin.

Stolen Recorders: Can you help?

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:36:00 +0800

Rachael Hatton reports that following an unfortunate incident on the London Underground an instrument in her posession was stolen, namely a copy of an alto Oberlander recorder with carved head and footjoint by Von Huene in boxwood. Rachael would be grateful for any information of its whereabouts. Please contact Curtis Price at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Flanders Recorder Quartet Release New CD

Tue, 3 Apr 2007 11:24:00 +0800

The world-famous Flanders Recorder Quartet celebrates its 20th anniversary with a spectacular new CD: Banchetto Musicale, SACD AE-10145.

Consortium5 launch their new web-site

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:24:00 +0800

The Consortium5 recorder quintet was formed from recorder players who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Daniel Bruggen and Peter Holtslag. They are committed to the future of the recorder and raising its profile, particularly in the UK.

Recorders stolen in Geneva

Sat, 3 Feb 2007 01:25:00 +0800

Place: Conservatoire Musique Ancienne de Genève
Date: end of February 2007
Stolen: 2 recorders + lower joints

A baroque alto recorder in f' with modern fingerings at A415 Hz by Ernst Meyer, Paris in pale coloured boxwood with darker brown streaks, made in 2004
A Ganassi alto recorder in g' by Guido Klemisch, Berlin, light brown colour

Both recorders were in a blue soft case.
In another blue case were the Ganassi recorder's 440 and 415 lower joints.
If you know anything about these instruments please contact either the lost property office in Geneva : +41 223276000, or the Geneva police : +41 227153850

Recorder Mute

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:38:01 +0800

An adjustable mute for soprano recorder has been developed and marketted by Italian plastics manufacturer Bonini.

Anthony Rowland-Jones to be presented with the ARS’ President’s Special Honor Award

Mon, 8 Jan 2007 01:30:00 +0800

Anthony Rowland-Jones will be presented with the American Recorder Society President’s Special Honor Award. He will also give one of his acclaimed recorder iconography lectures. Entitled The Background to Lully's Symbolic Uses of Recorders. Both presentation and lecture will take place at the Boston Early Music Festival, 11-17 July 2007.

Capriola Recorder Quartet launch their web-site

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 23:00:00 +0800

The Dutch recorder quartet Capriola have launched their own web-site.

Stolen recorders

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:39:00 +0800

The following 7 recorders were stolen at the Central Station in Amsterdam in the train CityNightLine on 15th November 2006. If you hear anything about one or more of these instruments please contact Andrea Guttmann as soon as possible, tel. +31 6 48 75 76 21.

Ganassi soprano (by Fred Morgan) at 415 Hz, maple, with metal ring
Ganassi alto in g' (by Monika Musch) at 440 Hz, maple, with metal ring
Ganassi alto in f' (by Monika Musch) at 440 Hz, maple, with metal ring
Rippert alto (by F. van Huene) at 442 Hz, grenadilla
Tenor (by Takeyama) at 440Hz, maple, stained dark brown
Rottenburgh Soprano (Moeck) at 440 Hz, ebony Sopranino (Aulos) 440 Hz, plastic

Recorder maker Doris Kulosa now has her own workshop

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 02:37:00 +0800

Recorder maker Doris Kulossa, formerly of Moeck and Blezinger, now has her own workshop in Bochum, Germany.

Chritopher Orton (recorder) & Magdalena Nasidlak (piano) awarded prize in 10th International Comtemporary Chamber Music Competition, Krakow

Fri, 8 Sep 2006 21:47:00 +0800

The duo of recorder player Christopher Orton (UK) and pianist Magdalena Nasidlak (Poland) were awarded the 2nd prize in the 10th International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition, Krakow, Poland. Their performance included a new piece composed for the duo, by Michal Pawelek, entitled Ling, for prepared piano and tenor recorder. The jury were so impressed with their performance of this work that the duo were invited to perform the work in the Grand Prix Final Concert, Philharmonia Hall, Krakow.

Vale, Ade Monsbourgh

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:13:13 +0800

Legendary multi-instrumentalist and ragtime recorder player Ade Monsborough passed away on Thursday 13 July 2006 at the age of 89.

Online dictionary of woodwind terms in English, French and German

Fri, 19 May 2006 12:11:00 +0800

Mona Lemmel (France), has launched woodwindwords, an online dictionary for woodwind terms in German, English, & French will be of great interest to recorder players and makers. It includes a facility for suggesting words to be added.

French recorder maker Bruno Reinhard has a new web-site in French & English

Thu, 18 May 2006 23:30:00 +0800

French recorder-maker Bruno Reinhard has launched his new web-site in both French & English.

Marion Vebruggen is next ARS Distinuished Achievement Award Recipient

Thu, 18 May 2006 20:46:00 +0800

During the 2006 Berkeley Festival (June 4-11), the American Recorder Society's Distinguished Achievement Award will be presented to virtuoso recorder player Marion Vebruggen. Past recipients have been Friedrich von Huene, Bernard Krainis, Shelley Gruskin, Nobuo Toyama, LaNoue Davenport, Martha Bixler, Edgar Hunt, Eugene Reichentha, Frans Brüggen, Valerie Horst and Pete Rose.

Stichting Blokfluit repertoire database now available gratis

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:21:00 +0800

Walter van Hauwe & Paul Leenhouts report that after some six months of hard work they now present completely re-written databases comprising two comprehensive catalogues:

Catalogue for Contemporary Blockflute Music (CCBM)
Catalogue for Historic Recorder Repertoire (CHRR)

Access to these databases is now free of charge. However, registration is required so that usage patterns and can be monitored in order to make improvements to the underlying software, and additional data and corrections can be submitted for inclusion in the catalogues. Simply follow the instructions after you have chosen 'Register' from the top left on the first screen, or 'Create account' under 'About us'. Fill in the form and remember your username and password. That's all!

Enjoy the new catalogues and please tell all your colleagues about this vitally important service.

Vale, Edgar Hunt

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:13:13 +0800

Sadly, the English recorder player, teacher, editor and writer has died on 16 March 2006 at the age of 96. Hunt was a pioneer of the recorder revival in Europe. An obituary will appear in Recorder Magazine 16(2): 44 (2006.).

Medieval recorder found in Tartu, Estonia

Fri, 10 Feb 2006 21:29:00 +0800

A 14th-century recorder has been found during an archeological dig in August 2005 by archaeologtist Andres Tvauri in a latrine in Tartu, Estonia (near the border with Russia). Other artifacts found with the 'Tartu Recorder' allow it to be dated from the second half of the 14th century. During the late medieval period Tartu was an important Hanseatic city connecting Russia, especially Novgorod, with Western Europe. The house where the recorder was found seems to have been that of a wealthy person. The instrument is turned with ornamental rings. The only crack is at the end of the instrument and does not extend to the bore. The body of the Tartu recorder is made from maple; the block from birch. The total length is 246.7 mm and the sounding length 225.4 mm. Thus the instrument is of similar size to a modern sopranino at 440 Hz.

Recorder Music Center established at Regis University in Denver (USA)

Thu, 9 Feb 2006 22:26:00 +0800

A Recorder Music Center has recently been established at Regis University in Denver (USA). This will be a very large resource for recorder music, both as an archive and also as a fully catalogued lending library. To date, they have about 5,000 recorder pieces. As they continue to get duplicate copies of materials, their lending catalogue will increase. They have also started a recorder instrument collection. The Center will also house the personal collections of American recorder players, composers, and historians (such as Erich Katz and David Goldstein). The Center is also the official repository for the American Recorder Society materials.

Stolen Recorders

Thu, 2 Feb 2006 22:26:00 +0800

On Friday 27th of January, around 19.30 on the Maasstraat in Amsterdam (near Albert Heyn) Ayumi Matsuda lost a black bag containing 6 recorders. Details are as follows:

sopranino, 415hz, ebony
soprano, 440hz, black with ivory rings, by Coolsma
soprano, Ganassi-style, in boxwood, with halfmoon maker's mark, by Adrian Brown
alto, 440hz, black with ivory rings, by Coolsma
alto, 415hz, in boxwood with clover mark, by Guido Klemisch
tenor, 440hz, in maple, by Yoav Ran
bag: black cotton, with 12 pockets, rolled, opens to 50 × 130 cm

If you know of the whereabouts of these instruments please contact Ayumi via her web-site.

Vale, Scott Reiss

Mon, 2 Jan 2006 05:13:13 +0800

Scott Reiss, 54, a world-renowned virtuoso on the recorder and a champion of early music and folk music from several traditions, died Dec. 14 at his home in Arlington from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Frans Brüggen rejects award from American Recorder Society

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:06:00 +0800

"I was invited to the United States by the American Recorder Society because I had been chosen [he raises his eyebrows, arms and whole body in a clear, rhetoric gesture] Recorder Player of the Millennium [more laughter]. Isn’t it strange? You can’t get away from it. I told them I didn’t want to go and they didn’t understand! I have chosen a new life. I didn’t tell them this, but I’m telling you now, the truth is I can’t stand the sound of the recorder any more [still more laughter]." Interview: Frans Brüggen – by Ernesto Schmied.

Vale, Dennis Bamforth

Mon, 5 Dec 2005 05:13:13 +0800

It is with sadness and shock we have heard the news that Dennis Bamforth has died in his sleep yesterday: he is the founder of the modern Recorder Orchestra, having established ensembles in the UK which have presented original compositions of his own and others plus arrangements for over 30 years. His pioneering work has enabled us to found in 2002 the National Youth Recorder Orchestra, which was his dream expressed in 1969. The Stockport Recorder College he founded with Colin Martin at the same time provided thousands of talented players with their first experience of high- quality opportunities for ensemble recorder playing, and the Manchester Recorder Orchestra as the largest and oldest regular ensemble in the UK.

These two names also founded the Northern Recorder Course which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, which they developed into one of the must-go events of the UK recorder scene. Many will know Dennis' music – the symphonies and many other works for recorder orchestra, and his arrangements - and will have played under his baton at those entertaining and uplifting workshops, day courses and conferences.

His inspiration to generations of players of all ages, and the legacy of the strength of the Recorder Orchestra principle and ideals not just in the UK but around the world, will continue to promote our instrument and its music ever further.

Thank you Dennis for all you have done – we will miss you. Colin Touchin, pupil 1966 onwards.

Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder Competition Results

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:36:00 +0800

On 13 November 2005, the Moeck / SRP (Society of Recorder Players) Solo Recorder Competition took place at the Peacock Room of the Trinity College of Music in Greenwich (UK). The adjudicators were Pierre Hamon, Paul Leenhouts and Ian Wilson.

Maria Martinez Ayerza was awarded the First Prize. She also received the SRP Walter Bergmann Fund Prize for her performance of Salamander II by Hiroyuki Itoh. In November 2006, María will present the winner's recital during the Greenwich International Festival and Exhibition of Early Music.

Erik Bosgraaf was awarded the Second Prize. Stephanie Brandt was awarded the Third Prize. Astrid Knöchlein was awarded the Fourth Prize.

Vale, John Henry

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:13:13 +0800

Dynamic pioneer of the recorder movement in France, Jean Henry died on 27 October 2005 at the age of 95.

Stolen Recorders

mvan.cutsem@caramail.com (Marie Van Cutsem) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:13:00 +0800

On Saturday 22 October two recorders were stolen from the bag of Marie Van Cutsem in Barcelona: one soprano renaissance recorder from Philippe Bolton, and one sopranino recorder. Both are in black pockets. If you know anything of the whereabouts of these instruments, please contact Marie.

Lost Recorder

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:40:00 +0800

Lost at the Royal Academy of Music, London, at the end of May (possibly left in practice room):

Ran renaisance descant (soprano) in maple (part of a set of different pitched footjoints – this one was at A=415 Hz) with gold-coloured ring binding head joint. Owner understandably distraught. If you encounter this instrument, please contact Peter Bowman via his web-site.

Nina Stern receives Early Music Brings History Alive Award

Tue, 5 Jul 2005 09:53:00 +0800

Nina Stern is the recipient of the “Early Music Brings History Alive” Award, which honors ensembles or individual artists for excellence in educational outreach, as demonstrated in early music school programs at the elementary/secondary level.

Friedrich and Ingeborg von Huene receive Early Music America's Howard Mayer Brown Award for lifetime achievement in the field of early music

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 09:50:00 +0800

Recorder maker Friedrich von Huene and his wife Ingeborg have been awarded the Howard Mayer Brown Award for lifetime achievement in the field of early music.

Brasilian recorder player Inês D'Avena launches her own web site

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:09:00 +0800

Young Brasilian recorder player Inês D'Avena has launched her own web site.

German Recorder Site Launched

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:59:00 +0800

Blockflöte.de, an extensive site devoted to the recorder has been launched by Jo Kunath.

Danish Recorder player Bolette Roed launches her web-site

Fri, 3 Dec 2004 19:31:00 +0800

Danish recorder player Bolette Roed now has her own web-site.

Argentinian recorder maker Marcelo Gurovich launches his new web-site

Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:13:00 +0800

Argentinian recorder maker Marcelo Daniel Gurovich has launched a new web-site.His instruments offer outstanding value for money.

Spanish, recorder player Vicente Parrilla will be teaching at Seville's conservatory

Tue, 6 Jul 2004 09:45:40 +0800

Stolen Flutes

Mon, 6 Sep 2004 09:45:00 +0800

On September 20th 2004, four very good transverse flutes (and personal papers, telephone, calendar, address book etc.) were was stolen from Barthold Kuijken at The Hague Central Station. The instruments stolen were:

A. Weemaels, Hotteterre copy, 387 Hz., boxwood, in a wooden box; 8 pieces: wooden end cap, ivory end cap, head joint, wooden connection, ivory connection, middle joint, wooden foot (with ivory ring), ivory foot.
A. Weemaels, A. Grenser copy, 415 Hz., boxwood with imitation-ivory rings, 4 pieces, no corkscrew but end cap, register foot
R. Tutz, I.H. Rottenburgh copy, stained boxwood with (imitation-) ivory rings, 4 pieces, corkscrew, register foot.
Ph. Allain-Dupre (unsigned), Quantz copy, 392 Hz., ebony or grenadilla, 4 pieces, (head joint with corkscrew and tuning slide), two keys and register foot

The last three instruments were carried in a clear brown soft leather purse.

If you see or hear of any of these instruments please contact Barthold immediately. It's never too late!

Recorded Recorders Database now available

Mon, 9 Aug 2004 07:41:00 +0800

The Recorded Recorders database is now available. It currently holds details of some ~~3,250~~ 11,250 LPs, Cassettes and CDs featuring the recorder in its wide repertoire from broken consorts of the renaissance, to the concertos and sonatas of the baroque, and to the recorder concertos of the 20th and 21st centuries. In between, are examples of recorder in ethnic and popular music, in Celtic and punk music, and in new age music.

New book on Carl Dolmetsch repertoire

Thu, 22 Apr 2004 22:07:00 +0800

Andrew Mayes' new book Carl Dolmetsch and the Recorder Repertoire of the 20th Century has been published by Ashgate. ISBN 07546 0968 5.

Win for Quartet New Generation

Fri, 2 Apr 2004 23:17:00 +0800

At the CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD COMPETITION 2004 in New YORK, the QNG (Quartet New Generation: Susanne Fröhlich, Andrea Guttmann, Hannah Pape, Heide Schwarz: recorders were awarded a 1st PRIZE, a 2 years Management and a Video-/Recording Prize out of approximately 300 applicants. The winner´s concert took place at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall on 25th of March 2004.

Ensemble Caprice web-site launched

Fri, 19 Mar 2004 20:17:00 +0800

Canadian group Ensemble Caprice, featuring the recorder playing of Mathias Maute and Sophie Larivière, now have a web-site of their own.

Interview with recorder-maker Adrian Brown

Sun, 22 Feb 2004 19:02:00 +0800

The text of an interview with recorder-maker Adrian Brown by Charles Fischer, from ARTAfacts (15 December 2003), is now freely available online.

New edition of A Practice Book for the Treble Recorder by Rowland-Jones

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 07:02:00 +0800

A 2nd edition with updating commentary of Anthony Rowland-Jones' A Practice Book for the Treble Recorder has been published. It can be ordered from Recorder Music Mail.

New edition of Recorder Technique by Rowland-Jones

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:19:15 +0800

A 3rd considerably revised edition of Anthony Rowland-Jones' Recorder Technique has been published by Ruxbury. This is essential reading for all recorder players. Order from Recorder Music Mail.

More Hispano web site now available

Fri, 5 Dec 2003 08:57:00 +0800

A website devoted to Spanish ensemble More Hispano featuring recorder player Vicente Parrilla is now available.

Danish ensemble Sirena have launched their new web-site

Thu, 20 Nov 2003 14:00:00 +0800

Danish recorder ensemble Sirena have launched their new web-site.

New edition of Griscom & Lasocki, The Recorder - a Research and Information Guide

Tue, 28 Oct 2003 20:24:00 +0800

A new edition of Richard Griscom and David Lasocki's The Recorder – a Research and Information Guide has recently been published by Routledge, New York & London. ISBN 0-415-93744-2.

Fred Morgan Workshop web site

Fri, 18 Jul 2003 11:31:03 +0800

The Fred Morgan Workshop now has its own web site. With the help of Dieter Mucke (Fred's wood turner of ten years) the workshop produces recorder "bodies" up to approximately a third of the finished state. These are turned, stained, the holes drilled, and most importantly, the bores reamed. This can all be done to Fred's specific designs, with tools he designed and used daily. The recorder is then finished, i.e. voiced and tuned, by the builder of your choice.

Swiss recorder maker Heinz Ammann now has his own website

Sun, 20 Jul 2003 15:23:00 +0800

Swiss recorder maker Heinz Amman now his is own website.

Quartet New Generation win 1st prize in 7th International Contemporary Chamber Music, Krakov

Mon, 22 Sep 2003 21:56:00 +0800

QNG 138 (Quartet New Generation: Susanne Fröhlich, Andrea Guttmann, Hannah Pape, Heide Schwarz: recorders) was awarded with a 1st prize in the category "quartet", with the Gaudeamus prize for the best performance of a composition of a dutch composer and the Grand Prix of the Finale in the 7th International Contemporary Chamber Music, Krakov (the former Penderecki Competition).

Deutsches Blockflötenmuseum

Thu, 4 Sep 2003 22:45:00 +0800

A museum devoted to the recorder and its documentation has been established in Fulda, Germany by Mollenhauer and an anonymous sponsor. Their web-site, a virtual museum, is well worth a visit.

Online scores from Andrew Robinson

Sat, 28 Jun 2003 16:07:00 +0800

Andrew Robinson (UK) reports that since April he has been posting baroque ensemble music on the SibeliusMusic website here. So far there are three groups of pieces:-

Pieces that name recorders, like the Monteclair opera movements that include whole recorder ensembles – these pieces are often mentioned in books and articles, but are hard to get hold of. Other pieces include the Heinichen Concerto in G that scores a bass recorder, Handel's recorder trio in Giustino, and other music that will be of interest to recorder players.
Ensemble pieces for unspecified instruments; the kind of music that could have been played by oboe bands (whose members would have played recorders.) Charpentier, Lully's Les Folies d'Espagne (La Folia), a Chaconne by Finger etc.
Music arranged for recorder ensemble; especially movements from Telemann's Partitas, the famous ones from his Kleine CammerMusik. The partitas also exist in four-part versions, 18th C arrangements that survive in manuscripts in the Darmstadt library. Andrew has adapted them for recorders (and included two of the new overtures in their original form).

The SibeliusMusic website makes it possible to listen to all the music, once the (free) Scorch plug-in program is downloaded. All the pieces can be downloaded as sheet music, a lot of them for free but some of them have a small charge.

Tamara Gries' CD 'Woodworks' newly released

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 20:00:00 +0800

Australian recorder player Tamara Gries' (neé Herman) CD Woodworks has been re-released by Divine Art Record Company. It includes works by Cronin, Handel, Lerich, Vivaldi, Zahnhausen, including Australian composer Stephen Cronin's Suite for Recorder & Strings (1993).

Lazy Ade Monsbourgh: Recorder in Ragtime

Sun, 26 Jan 2003 10:37:00 +0800

These wonderful historic recordings by Australian jazz musician Lazy Ade Monsbourgh are now available on CD from Bilarm Music (BAC16).

Dutch recorder-maker Adriana Breukink now has her own website

Thu, 26 Dec 2002 23:18:00 +0800

Dutch recorder maker Adriana Breukink now has her own website.

Walter van Hauwe awarded the Music Price of the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation

Thu, 26 Dec 2002 16:12:00 +0800

Dutch recorder player and educator Walter van Hauwe has been awarded the Music Prize of the Prins Berhard Cultuur Fonds.

Recorder Making by David Tredenick

Wed, 6 Nov 2002 13:25:00 +0800

A copy of David's report to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia which considers technical aspects of recorder making such as wind-way design, bore design and tuning techniques is now available online.

Stolen recorders still at large

Wed, 16 Oct 2002 09:52:00 +0800

The following instruments have been stolen from Vicente Parilla in Barcelona, Spain, on the 12th of November 2001:

Bob Marvin cylindrical g alto, serial number 18, 1999
Bob Marvin cylindrical f alto, serial number 19, 1999
F. Von Huene Denner alto at 415 Hz, boxwood
Stephan Blezinger Ganassi g alto, with two joints at 466 + 440 Hz, maple, serial number 97082, 1997

If you happen to know of the whereabouts of these instruments please contact Vicente Parrilla (via his web-site).

French recorder-maker Joël Arpin's web site now available

Sun, 13 Oct 2002 15:37:00 +0800

Information concering instruments by this outstanding French recorder-maker, a number of which are available for immediate delivery, can be found on his new web-site.

Recorder screensavers

Mon, 22 Jul 2002 14:25:00 +0800

A series of screensavers for Windows computers are now available each featuring 9 artworks depicting recorders:

Angels: angel musicians playing recorders
Children: young recorder players
Ensembles: musical groups which include recorders
Men: depictions of men playing recorders
Women: depictions of women playing recorders
Vanitas: still-life paintings which include recorders

Each installation file is ca 700-800 kb and will take a few minutes to download.

Once more available: Edgar Hunt's The Recorder and its Music

Wed, 17 Jul 2002 15:44:00 +0800

For this new reprint of his book, first published in 1962, Edgar Hunt has made revisions and corrections to both text and illustrations to bring it up to date. Publisher:Peacock Press. Available for UK £14.45 from Recorder MusicMail, Scout Bottom Farm, Mytholmroyd, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX7 5JS, United Kingdom; fax: +44 01422 886157; tel.: +44 01422 882751.

French recorder-maker Marc Ecochard now has a web site

Sat, 24 Nov 2001 11:59:00 +0800

French recorder- and oboe-maker now has a website.

New CD by Respectable Groove

Sun, 18 Nov 2001 11:30:00 +0800

Evelyn Nallen et als new CD Mysterious Barracudas has just been released. It incorporates elements of early music (medieval & baroque), jazz, Latin and a dash of Borodin. It is available from Mr Sam Records, 73 High Street, Pirton, Hitchin, Herts SG5 3PU, UK; tel. +44 1462 712583.

Play-After-Me Recorder (PAM)

Mon, 12 Nov 2001 13:00:00 +0800

Play-After-Me (PAM), from Dan Dierikx (Australia), is an interactive Recorder learning program which actually recognizes the note you play. The application is designed for the Win 95/98 operating system.

New Book, Teaching Recorder in the Music Classroom

Wed, 24 Oct 2001 18:02:00 +0800

Kersten, Fred. (2001). Teaching Recorder in the Music Classroom. MENC National Association for Music Education, Reston VA.

The Recorder in the General Music Classroom
Introducing the Recorder
Selecting and Purchasing Recorders
Recorder Basics
The Recorder and National Sstandards
Teaching Tips for the Classroom
Using the Recorder in the Orff Clasroom (by Konnie Saliba)
Arranging for Success
Literature and Other Resources Appendix: Fingering Charts

Available from the author.

Avondale Press' new web site

Tue, 30 Oct 2001 09:50:00 +0800

Avondale Press, publisher of music for recorders and music by Canadian female composers, has a new web site.

Synpor, a new absorbent block material

Sat, 20 Oct 2001 19:02:00 +0800

German recorder-maker Conrad Mollenhauer introduce a new synthetic block material which absorbs moisture without changing dimension.

Saunders Recorders, Bristol (UK)

Fri, 19 Oct 2001 15:25:00 +0800

This major recorder retailer's web-site is now available.

Online scores for recorder arranged by Yoshitaka Fuii

Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:15:00 +0800

A new collection of PDF format scores and MIDI files of music arranged by Yoshitaka Fuii for recorders is now available.

Vale, Arnold Grayson

Sun, 8 Apr 2001 13:13:13 +0800

An obituary of USA recorder player, teacher and retailer Arnie Grayson, by Steve Donachie.