PHILIPPE BOLTON

HANDMADE RECORDERS & FLAGEOLETS

MEDIEVAL DOUBLE RECORDERS

This painting by Simone Martini (1312), shows a musician playing two recorders together, giving a possibility of simultaneously playing a tune and a drone or simple accompaniment. The tune and accompaniment can even be passed from one pipe to the other. Joining the two together makes them easier to play since they form a single rigid instrument.

The soprano (descant) double recorder in c.

Each pipe has 5 holes, (including the thumb) giving a total chromatic range of over an octave, with notes from c to a on the right hand (low) pipe, and from f to d on the left hand (high) pipe, as well as some extra high notes from f2 to a2. Pitch: 440, 460, 466 or 523 Hz.

You can listen to this instrument here von der Vogelweide (13th century) Under der Linden _____________________________ A video : Emily Baines presents and plays this double recorder _____________________________ A recording on CD: Ich het czu hannt geloket mir by the Monk of Salzburg (14th century) played by the duo Enßle-Lamprecht on Audax Records

The alto double recorder in G

The characteristics are the same as those of the soprano.

You can listen to the alto double recorder here:



der Mönch von Salzburg (14th century)
Vil maniger geud von sweigen sich,
arranged & played by Anne Suse Enßle
(Audax Records ADWW11206) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLJHkKLMilM





These two recorders together for comparison.

Some examples from the iconography of the period

a sculpture in the Palais Jacques Coeur, in Bourges

Two English manuscripts from the early fourteenth century

From the Luttrell Psalter (ca 1325), British Library Add. MS 42130

A manuscript from about 1300, British Library Royal MS 10 E IV

The Assumption of the Virgin, Avignon school, 15th century (detail)

Ceiling of the Chapelle de la Vierge (14th century), Le Mans cathedral

15th century fresco Saint Paul church, Lyon

double recorder (XVth century painting, Castile)

Detail of a 13th century painting in a benedictine monastery in Subiaco, Italy.

Detail of a fresco by Giacomo Jacquerio, ca. 1410–15