Tenor recorders

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Vikingr
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Tell us something.: Interested in the Irish Whistle and recorder. I would like to become more proficient and join the community.

Tenor recorders

Post by Vikingr »

I would like to buy a tenor recorder. I consider myself to have small hands, but I can stretch 9 notes on the piano. I have looked at the Aulos 211 Robin, which is described as being good for small hands. However, I have been told the intonation suffers a little from the small holes.

So should I go for it, or a more standard version and get stretching my fingers!

Knowledgeable views would be very useful.

Thank you.
fatmac
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by fatmac »

The Yamaha has two keys for the lower hole(s), C/C#, I used to have one, but found them awkward to use, but it might be worth a look, it certainly had good tone.
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Vikingr
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by Vikingr »

Would a key be better than a tenor with smaller holes and shorter distances between notes do you think? Just for the record, I used to be quite fluent on the recorder but am restarting after many years, so no plans to appear at the Royal Albert Hall any time soon!
fatmac
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by fatmac »

It looks like it is smaller bore & closer holes than my old Yamaha, which used to be almost the same size as the Aulos tenor of the time, when I bought mine; other than that, I honestly can't say.
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Katharine
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by Katharine »

I've seen some people say the difference isn't actually that great-- IIRC, it's because while the key may make those low notes easier to reach, the hole spacing is a bit wider, so it ends up being sort of 6 of one and half a dozen of the other? I've never tried a keyed tenor, though.
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Vikingr
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by Vikingr »

These replies are helpful. My head says to go with the Aulos, my heart would like the little key to play with. A professional recorder player says if I go for a Yamaha or Aulos, I can't really go wrong. I'm going to the music shop to feel them.

Thanks all!
Vikingr
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by Vikingr »

Found a very useful article here:

http://www.saundersrecorders.com/recqual.htm

I thought it cleared up a lot of my thoughts on key or not, wood or plastic and what constitutes recorder quality.

An interesting read?
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AuLoS303
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by AuLoS303 »

I have a 211, I don't find the intonation dodgy at all. And because of the slanted holes its reasonably easy to reach.
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Re: Tenor recorders

Post by Katharine »

Vikingr wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:13 am These replies are helpful. My head says to go with the Aulos, my heart would like the little key to play with. A professional recorder player says if I go for a Yamaha or Aulos, I can't really go wrong. I'm going to the music shop to feel them.

Thanks all!
I think you can't, either. Between those two and Zen-On, they're basically *the* recommended plastic-recorder makers.
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FrankPerrone
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Tell us something.: Played sax and oboe in high school. Years later, living in apartment, decided to take up recorder as I thought it would be easier on neighbors than oboe. Been playing recorder for a few years. Have sopranino (Aulos), soprano (Mollenhauer Prima, Susato), alto (Yamaha 300, Mollanhauer Prima, Mollenhauer Denner Pallisander, Zen-on Giglio), tenor (Adler) and bass (Yamaha). Also have a lot of whistles but never really cracked (ha ha) the code as whistle technique is quite different from recorder technique. I also have a lot of harmonicas and world wind instruments (Ba Wu, Dudek, Sipsi and Nose Flute (!).

Re: Tenor recorders

Post by FrankPerrone »

I have a Kung Studio tenor in cherrywood and I find it very easy to cover the holes. I believe the Huber Model II is also very ergonomic. These are going to be sort of an expensive option though. I had patronized one recorder dealer (ASW) for many years and was given a 25% discount on any purchase of my choice and the Kung was still around $500. It has given me a lot of pleasure over the last few years though so I think it money well spent.
As for plastic tenors I think the Yamaha is better than the Aulos 211 (per what I have read) but must confess I have only held the Yamaha (could not cover holes) and have no experience at all with Aulos.
I do have an old Alder Filius tenor and I can cover the holes. The tone is not that great though. I do not think they are available anymore except maybe on Ebay.
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