Recorders and Musical scores
I'm new to recorders and I do not know much about it. I have a soprano recorder by Yamaha.
I really enjoyed a composition by handel, specifically the recorder sonata.
I would like to know whether the musical scores written for recorders are suitable for all types of recorders (like soprano, alto, etc.)?
In particular, is it possible to play handel's recorder sonata with a soprano recorder?
Any response is appreciated.
Thank you
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It really depends, you might be. If there are no notes below the range of the soprano recorder, then go on and play it, it will sound approximately the same. I play alto sax and am able to play multiple tenor sax pieces on it since most of the notes overlap. If some of the notes are too low, you will have to transpose, though.
If you can't use the instrument/fingerings Handel thought you'd use, you won't have an easy time of it. I suggest buying an Yamaha alto recorder and start learning that instrument's fingerings. IMHO it's a better choice for adult beginners. There are many easier bits in those sonatas to help you practice.
No, Handel wrote his recorder sonantas for alto (treble) recorder which has a range from F (first space in the treble clef) to the G 2 octaves and a tone above. Your soprano won't play that high, so you are out of luck playing the music as written.
You could transpose the notes down a fourth (i.e. A sonata in F becomes a sonata in C) which will bring it into range on the soprano, but because the soprano sounds an octave higher than written, the music will sound a fifth above what the composer intended. You will also need to transpose the continuo part if you plan to play with piano or harpsichord. The sonata won't sound as good as when played on the alto - a little high and screechy.
My recommendation is to move to the alto recorder as soon as practicable. The bulk of the Baroque repertoire is written for alto, and a lot of transverse flute music is also playable on the alto. You could try listening to Telemann and Marcello. They both wrote good stuff for the alto.
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