very good book about the history of the recorder
This is the only easily available book about the history of the instrument, with nice chapters dealing with the history of the recorder and coments about the repertoire. so, if you love the recorder, it is a must buy.
My only complain is that they should include a chapter with systematic and more detailed description and analysis of all Telemann and Hendel sonatas. A non academic chapter about the instruments available in the market, with photos of the various sizes would enlarge the number of readers interested in the book.
Bravo, almost
Any recorder player will enjoy and learn from this book. I have been playing the alto recorder for a year now. This book taught me a great deal about the instrument. What's even better,
the book carefully introduces the repertory and where to find and read about it.I am delighted to learn that I will never run out of material to play.
The book is written with care, verve, and love. However, the reader is assumed to have considerable knowledge, to know without explanation, for instance, the implications of wide windways and bores, and narrow windways (p178). The history of the 20th century recorder revival, of great interest to contemporary enthusiasts, is brushed off twice, as "described and discussed in several publications." Fine, then why not this one? This should have been dealt with more carefully. The illustrations are very poorly reproduced. I am still suffering from eyestrain from trying to find the recorder in Plate 27.
Overall, though, this is a book any recorder player will want.
