Recorder31 Day 19 | Introducing Svart Vaeren Gemshorns

The clue’s in the name, Recorder31 — August is the month where we celebrate all things recorder! However, the fantastic array of instruments within our catalogue got us thinking, where else can you use your recorder skills?! Well, today we’re introducing you to a few other wind instruments that use similar fingering systems. Why not consider expanding your instrument collection?

Introducing Svart Vaeren Gemshorns

New to The Early Music Shop!

Svart Vaeren is a Serbian workshop dedicated to handcrafted historical gemshorns made from carefully selected natural horn. Every instrument is individually voiced, tuned and finished by hand, combining historical inspiration with reliable modern craftsmanship.

We are delighted to announce a new partnership between Svart Vaeren and The Early Music Shop, making these fabulous handmade instruments available to customers worldwide.

The gemshorn is a historical woodwind instrument with a fipple, not dissimilar to that of a recorder, and employing a similar seven-hole-plus-thumb fingering arrangement too. They date back to the 15th century, at which time they were found across Europe. Made from animal horn, they have a sweet, mellow tone similar to an ocarina or softer-wood recorder.

Our new range of gemshorns by Svart Vaeren includes instruments at six pitches: sopranino in F, soprano in C, alto in G, alto in F, tenor in C and bass in F – meaning they are ideal consort instruments, just like recorders. All instruments are tuned to a440 as standard, however a415 instruments are available upon request. These gemshorns utilise standard Baroque recorder fingering, but instruments with Renaissance fingering are also available upon request.

Our first stock of Svart Vaeren gemshorns is on its way — but place an order now to guarantee your instrument!

Click here (or on the images below) to discover Svart Vaeren gemshorns at The Early Music Shop now.

What do they sound like? Check out the audio samples to explore the range!

Listen to Svart Vaeren gemshorns!

Sopranino in F:

Soprano in C:

Alto in F:

Tenor in C:

Bass in F:

And that’s not all!

Here’s another consort instrument with similarities to the recorder — albeit this time with a reed instead of a fipple! We have a brilliant collection of crumhorns available for sale in our Reconditioned range, and Team Recorder’s Sarah Jeffery spent a few minutes exploring the instrument in today’s exclusive short video for Recorder31!

Click here to explore crumhorns available now at The Early Music Shop!

And to purchase our crumhorn tutor book, written by the much-missed Clare Salaman exclusively for The Early Music Shop, please click here. The book is part of a series that also includes hurdy gurdy and vielle tutor books – while we can't claim they use anything like recorder fingering, they might be the next challenge for you multi-instrumentalists out there!

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For today's Sound Of Recorder Music section we are continuing our divergence away from recorders just a little bit with the Lír Whistle in Eb.

If you've played a Lír whistle before, you'll know they have built a serious reputation for producing instruments with remarkable backpressure and tonal consistency. Stepping up a semitone from standard High D, this Eb model brings a sweet, piping brilliance to the table that instantly cuts through a session.

Listen to how crisp and nimble the ornamentation sounds. The brass body gives it a warm, metallic core, while the precision composite head ensures the second octave speaks effortlessly without turning shrill or demanding crazy air control. It’s snappy, sweet, and bright as a button.

Listen to this whistle!

Donnybrook Fair (Trad Irish):