Recorder Music

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Recorders are a sort of niche area within classical music.  They were going out of style in the time of J. S. Bach already (we are a little confused about whether he wanted recorders or flutes in his orchestras; probably sometimes it was one, and sometimes the other).  They came into fashion in the seventies, because they're not difficult to learn to play moderately well.  An ensemble of several recorders (of varying sizes, of course) is called a consort of recorders.

Here is the Loeki Stardust Quartet from Amsterdam.  These guys are very well known indeed for their virtuoso playing.  There's no indication of what the piece is.

The Flanders quartet playing a piece by Merula (16th century).

Two numbers from The Art of Fugue by J.S. Bach, played by the Daphne Recorder Quartet.

This is Sirena, evidently an all-woman ensemble with a gorgeous double-bass recorder (looking a bit like a double-bassoon).  They're playing a lovely chorale by Bach [:Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier].

Here are these irrepressible Sirena gals again, playing a dance from Michael Praetorius, a collector of early music centuries before research into ancient music came into fashion in recent times.  Praetorius's name is known to me principally as the one to whom is ascribed the tune Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (There is a Rose blooming), whose harmonization by Bach is a Christmas favorite.

Finally, here is the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra playing one version of J. S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no. 4 in G.  This version has two recorders and harpsichord, rather than two recorders and violin.  The recorder soloists are (Italian: Flauto dolce): Günther Höller, Ulrike Thieme.  The harpsichord soloist is the celebrated Christiane Jaccottet.

Added later: Sirena is evidently a Swedish group. A visit to their site quickly reveals that they have a zany sense of humor. Here is an extended video clip featuring several of their favorite pieces, and lots of oddball high jinks.