I have a book on Baroque music in which the author states that blow-through instruments like recorders were supplanted by blow-over instruments like flutes becuse you could get more volume out of the latter. Why?
I’m not so sure about the “blow-through” terminology. After all, a trumpet is a “blow-through” instrument.
I am a string player, but I am married to a clarinettist/recordist. I feel I should have something concrete to say about this, but I don’t.
I do have a gut feeling, though, that the author of the article you mention is barking up the wrong tree as far as why the recorder was supplanted in the orchestra.
In short, I dunno.
No answer, but I think the flute was preferred because it didn’t make that godawful sound like the recorder and this is just a polite way of explaining why the recorder should be taken outside and shot.
Sorry not to be more helpful, but the sound of a recorder, for me, is worse than fingernails on a blackboard.
My sister is a flautist, with a flute you can maintain a clear note at louder where as with a recorder you just get a horrible screeching sound. Recorders come in several sizes though so I’m not sure how the notes of the larger lower-pitch recorders vary with volume.
I believe the reason the transverse flute (traverso) replaced the recorder is a combination of loudness and larger range. The traverso started gaining popularity around the early 18th century; because of its louder sound, it was better suited for playing in large accompaniments, and so entered the typical orchestral arrangement.
As someone who has played the recorder (soprano, descant, tenor) for 14 years, I beg to disagree with you on the “godawful sound” part. While the sound of 30 plastic white Yamaha recorders belting out “Hot Cross Buns” to various degrees of correctness and pitch is certainly enough to drive anyone to insanity (a scene sadly common in music classrooms across the world), it must be noted that
a) wooden recorders usually have a much softer, more mellow sound than plastic recorders; and
b) higher-pitch recorders do not (in my experience, at least) provide as deep and resonant a sound as do lower-pitch recorders. There are 22 different recorder sizes, most of which certainly do not screech simply because their pitch is too low.
Much like in any instrument, the sound varies greatly according to the player’s experience and skill. A large part of the clarity and loudness depends on the pressure and amount of air moving through the recorder. You can get a loud note without screeching, simply by altering the way you blow into the instrument.
And you can get godawful sounds from a regular flute as well. Believe me, I’ve practiced in a classroom next to the flutists for 5 years now.
This excessively long-winded post brought to you by auRa, who is still patiently explaining to people 14 years later why she originally chose the recorder and not the flute