This year we have started to restock our CD collection which now boasts a large number of titles covering early music, and more contemporary music which uses early instruments. For today’s Recorder31 feature, we’re highlighting a few of the recorder CDs within the collection…

Click on the image below to view the full collection of CDs featuring recorder players... a treasure trove of music to discover!

Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet – Borrowed, Not Stolen… (Lawo, 2023)
£14.99

This brand-new release is the debut album from Sweden-based recorder ensemble Woodpeckers. The title alludes to the fact the group have ‘borrowed’ chamber music which wasn’t originally written for recorder, which, when combined with the traditional Nordic tunes they have arranged, makes for an interesting and unique programme.

Ensemble Hesperi – Full of the Highland Humours (EM, 2021)
£14.99

This month’s featured album at The Early Music Shop, this debut release by the London-based quartet includes the sparkling recorder playing of Mary-Jannet Leith, whose Scottish heritage provided the inspiration for this highland programme. Music by composers including Geminiani, Oswald and Sammartini paints a vivid picture of a stunning landscape.

Tabea Debus – Ohrwurm (Delphian, 2020)
£15.99

Tabea Debus’ virtuosic playing shines on this disc featuring short ‘earworms’ from Renaissance through to 20^th Century repertoire. A wide-spanning recording which shows the breadth of the recorder’s repertoire in a beautifully considered programme. Features Jonathan Rees (viola da gamba) and Alex McCartney (theorbo & guitar).

The Royal Wind Music – The Orange Tree Courtyard (Pan, 2023)
£15.99

 A previous featured album of ours, this disc takes the listener on a sonic journey around the cathedral of Seville with sumptuous 11-part consort music. Last year’s Recorder31 featured a ‘making of’ Instagram takeover while this album was being recorded, which can still be viewed on our Instagram page.

Stefan Temmingh & Capricornus Consort Basel – Leipzig 1723 (Accent, 2021)
£15.99

Temmingh and his consort tell the tale of the recruitment for a new Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1723, which led to the eventual appointment of Johann Sebastian Bach, but also took into consideration Telemann, Fasch and Graupner. Music by these composers forms the backbone of this recording which puts the German Baroque masters in the spotlight.

The Flautadors Recorder Quartet – Bavardage (First Hand, 2017)
£14.99

Released in 2017 to mark the 20^th anniversary of The Flautadors Recorder Quartet, formed at the Guildhall School in London. Featuring several arrangements of Scottish tunes by ensemble member Ian Wilson, alongside contemporary consort music by Maki Ishii, Arvo Pärt, Terry Riley and Leo Chadburn, amongst others.

Isaac Makhdoomi & Ensemble Piccante – Vivaldi Concerti (Prospero, 2023)
£15.99 

A stunning interpretation of music by one of the virtuoso recorder composers of the high Baroque, featuring Swiss/Indian recorder player Isaac Makhdoomi. Presented in a deluxe hardback CD case with an extensive booklet, this is a collector’s item featuring staple recorder repertoire.

Erik Bosgraaf & Collegium Musicum Riga – J S Bach Concertos for Recorder, Vol 2 (Brilliant, 2022)
£12.99 

The latest themed album by Dutch recorder master Erik Bosgraaf, whose interpretations of core recorder repertoire are often cited amongst the seminal editions on the market. Check back on Wednesday for a message from Erik Bosgraaf and a chance to win a copy of this album!

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The Sound of Recorder Music!

Each day this month we're highlighting an audio clip of a recorder from our extensive range. Today we hear the sounds of the Küng Studio Soprano in Pearwood. For a Baroque instrument it has a comparatively wide bore and large finger holes, making it very strong in sound and comfortable to hold. Listen to the clips below or follow this link to find out more about this instrument.

Van Eyck Nightingale:

Sammartini Allegro:

Scale: