User talk:Doponotte/sandbox/Recorder (revision)

Intended workflow: work on/stage article sections here, then post them to the main article when they're finished, piece by piece. Major restructurings, will have to discuss.

Improvements staged here:
 * Improved etymology and name of the instrument section, with corrected etymology, more systematic treatment (etymology posted, as well as improved references to the occurrences of recorder)
 * Improved "construction" section, now materials
 * Collapsible fingering table (the table is very large, obtrusive) (published)
 * New lead section

extra materials

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In its earliest sense, documented in the early 13th century, the English verb "record" (from MFr recorder) meant "to learn by heart, to commit to memory, to go over in one's mind," or "to repeat or say over as a lesson or portion of memorized text, to recite."

Of a songbird (rarely of a person): to practise or sing (a tune) in an undertone; to go over (a song or tune) quietly or silently; to produce subsong. In later use techn. Obs. 1413 the ''Pilgr. Sowle (Pilgrim Soul, printed by Caxton in 1483) includes: When they hadde these instrumentes they recorded songes besyly tylle that they were ... parfyte ynowe in al maner musike''.

________draft 1___

Recorders are end-blown internal duct flutes, distinguished from other members of the family by having a single thumb hole for the upper hand, and (most often) seven finger holes. They feature most prominently in the Western Classical tradition.

The first documented recorders date to the Middle Ages. The instrument enjoyed wide popularity in the Renaissance and the Baroque, but was little used in the classical and romantic periods. In the early 20th century, it gained popularity in the early-music revival. Today, it is widely popular as an educational and amateur instrument and has many skilled professional exponents.

In the Baroque, the recorder was traditionally associated with pastoral scenes, miraculous events, funerals, marriages, and amorous scenes. Images of recorders can be found in literature and artwork associated with all of these. Purcell, Bach, Telemann, and Vivaldi used the recorder to suggest shepherds and imitate birds in their music

The sound of the recorder is often described as clear and sweet. Physically, this can be explained by the lack of upper harmonics and predominance of odd harmonics in the sound.

___draft 2___

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument in the group known as internal duct flutes—instruments which produce sound when air is blown through a channel, and directed over an opening at a sharp edge, as in a whistle. It is the most prominent member of this instrument family in the western classical tradition. It is distinguished from other duct flutes by having a hole for the thumb of the upper hand and having seven finger-holes: three for the upper hand, four for the lower one.

Recorders are made in different sizes with compasses corresponding to different vocal ranges. The sizes most commonly in use today are the soprano (lowest note C5), alto (lowest note F5), tenor (lowest note C4) and bass (lowest note F4). They are traditionally constructed from wood and ivory, although the use of plastics has recently become common. Other characteristics of the construction of recorders such as the bore profile, the use of keys, the size and placement of the finger-holes, and fingering systems have varied over time and between instruments.

The recorder is first documented in the Middle Ages, and continued to enjoy wide popularity in the renaissance and baroque periods, but was little used in the classical and romantic periods. It was revived in the 20th century as part of the historically informed performance movement, and as an amateur and educational instrument. Today, there are many professional recorder players who demonstrate the instrument's full solo range and a large community of amateurs.

The sound of the recorder is often described as clear and sweet, and has historically been associated with birds and shepherds. Acoustically, like other instruments with a whistle mouthpiece, produces a pure tone and odd harmonics predominate in its sound.

The recorder's repertoire encompasses a variety of styles, and has significant historical and contemporary components.

____draft 3____ (published)

____from lasocki___

Invented (or imported to Europe) during the Middle Ages, it was one of the most common wind instruments of the Renaissance and continued to play an important role in the Baroque. After being little used during the Classical and Romantic periods, it was resuscitated in the early 20th century and featured prominently in the early-music revival. Today it is a widely popular educational and amateur instrument and has attracted a skilled body of professionals.

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___original below___

The recorder is a family of woodwind musical instruments of the group known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments that include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown, and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple. It is distinguished from other members of the family by having holes for seven fingers (the lower one or two often doubled to facilitate the production of semitones) and one for the thumb of the uppermost hand. The bore of the recorder can be tapered slightly, being widest at the mouthpiece end and narrowest towards the foot on Baroque recorders. Renaissance-era instruments also taper, but generally have more nearly cylindrical bores. Recorders can be made out of wood, plastic, or ivory.

The recorder was popular in medieval times through the baroque era, but declined in the 18th century in favour of orchestral woodwind instruments, such as the flute, oboe, and clarinet. During its heyday, the recorder was traditionally associated with pastoral scenes, miraculous events, funerals, marriages, and amorous scenes. Images of recorders can be found in literature and artwork associated with all of these. Purcell, Bach, Telemann, and Vivaldi used the recorder to suggest shepherds and imitate birds in their music, a theme that continued in 20th-century music.

The recorder was revived in the 20th century, partly in the pursuit of historically informed performance of early music, but also because of its suitability as a simple instrument for teaching music and its appeal to amateur players. Today, it is sometimes thought of as a child's instrument, but there are many professional players who demonstrate the instrument's full solo range. The sound of the recorder is often described as clear and sweet. Physically, this can be explained by the lack of upper harmonics and predominance of odd harmonics in the sound.

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