Playing the recorder: Which instrument for an apartment dweller?

[GanChan]

I used to play a lot of oboe/saxophone/clarinet in high school and college, but I wandered away from music performance for a few decades after that. I also had a basic introduction to the recorder, and now I'm thinking of getting back into that instrument just for noodling around at home. A decent plastic Yamaha or Aulos would be fine for my limited purposes.

The question is, which type of recorder should I get? I live in an older apartment with the typical single-pane windows and thin walls, so a soprano recorder would drive the neighbors (and probably me) nuts. The alto has all the solo stuff written for it, but I'm wondering if even its tone might be too penetrating in close quarters. There remains the softer and (to me) even more agreeable tone of the tenor recorder -- surely no one ever called the cops on one of THEM -- and I could play a certain amount of classical flute and oboe literature on it, but my hands and fingers are on the small side; I don't know if I can handle the stretch and/or hole width.

Any thoughts or advice from the recorder owners/players out there?

[Szykneij]

I can't help you out with any advice, but I have to compliment you for being such a thoughtful neighbor.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Indeed. Most neighbors are freaking barbarians. You never learn how to properly despise your fellow humans until you live in attached housing! 

I've played the alto and tenor off and on (mostly off) for the past 1.5 years. I am entirely self-taught on the alto and tenor (which I very rarely play). I have played piano most of my life, so I can read music. I also played clarinet and alto sax in high school, and I have missed playing an woodwind instrument.

Both the tenor and alto can indeed produce some very piercing high notes--or attempted high notes, especially when you're a beginner--but I think these are worse on the alto. It is just a matter of experience, and the higher notes are increasingly picky about exactly how much of the thumb hole is covered.

I wanted to just be entirely self-taught on one instrument, but I'm sure I could benefit from lessons. I bought Yamaha alto and tenor recorders, and also, the "Sweet Pipes Recorder Book--A method for adults and older beginners" I found it quite useful, at least to start, but after the first third of the book, you'll likely get bored with the exercises and want to play some real music.

Currently I'm playing the Sarabande from Bach's Partita for unaccompanied flute. You can buy the sheet music for alto, or you can do what I did and manually transpose from Amin to Cmin (to accomodate the range of the alto).

The tenor does produce a more mellow sound, but you really do need large hands, or forget it. I have large hands, and can reach well over an octave on the piano, but the tenor is still a bit of a challenge.

The Yamaha recorders are cheap enough you could just buy both and mess around...

[jochanaan]

I used to have an Aulos tenor.  As I recall, its fingerholes were not particularly difficult to cover for smaller hands--not as much of a stretch for me as my Kung tenor was.  (Disclaimer: My hands can reach a tenth on piano. )

But even the most piercing notes on alto are nothing like the tones of an oboe, a sax or even a silver flute!  I don't think you'll have any trouble with your neighbors if you play alto.

[Karl Henning]

Reminds me of a joke of Eric Idle's from the Rutland Weekend Television project with Neil Innes.

Just a reminder that playing your records loud at night will annoy and irritate the neighbors.

Another good way to annoy and irritate the neighbors is . . . .

[GanChan]

Thanks, all. I went ahead and got both. 

[jochanaan]

Thanks, all. I went ahead and got both. 

How is your learning coming?

[GanChan]

How is your learning coming?

Sorry for the super-late reply! I now have an Aulos keyless tenor, an Aulos 703 soprano, and 2 altos: A Yamaha 314 and an Aulos 309A. Fortunately, plastic recorders are cheap enough to be collectable.... I am mainly playing Renaissance/Baroque songs, the occasional easy Baroque sonata, and traditional English folk songs. Sometimes I pretend my tenor is a shakuhachi when i need a "moment of Zen"....

No neighbors have indicated any annoyance with me so far. But to hedge my bets, I tend to play when they're more likely to be out and about. I do avoid the highest notes on the soprano, though.

[Karl Henning]

Safety first! 

[jochanaan]

How do you like your Aulos alto as compared to the Yamaha?