Recorder31 Day 24 | Van Eyck Competition

Unbelievably, we've already reached the last full week of Recorder31, which means it's time for the final competition for this year. We're celebrating one of the most famous collections of music for solo recorder in this week's competition – with a special prize courtesy of Moeck, and a VERY special guest judge too!

Van Eyck Competition

Jacob Van Eyck's 'Der Fluyten Lust-Hof' was first published in Utrecht in 1644, and it is still the largest collection of solo music for a single woodwind instrument – quite the accolade almost 400 years later! 

We know lots of you will enjoy playing Van Eyck's music, and this week we've selected one of our favourite pieces from the collection – 'O Slaep, O Zoete Slaep'. We'd love to hear your interpretation of this music! Please feel free to play however many of the variations feels right for your level of experience – this competition will be judged on how well you have interpreted and performed the segment you have chosen to record.

We've transcribed the music for you to download and learn, or if you fancy a challenge you can read from the facsimile available on the IMSLP website! (If you own the books, you'll find it in Volume 2 – Number 65.)

Click here to download the music for 'O Slaep, O Zoete Slaep'.

Our Guest Judge

One of this year's Recorder31 Featured Artists is arguably one of the world's leading authorities on Van Eyck's music. We are delighted that Erik Bosgraaf has agreed to guest judge this week's competition. Erik's 2007 recording of 'Der Fluyten Lust-Hof' for Brilliant Classics is widely considered to be one of the definitive interpretations of the collection, so his expertise will mean your recordings are in safe hands! Thanks to Erik for agreeing to judge the competition.

The Prize

Courtesy of our friends at Moeck, we are delighted to offer a Rottenburgh Soprano in Amaranth as this week's competition prize! Part of the new range of 'Purpleheart' recorders in Amaranth, this fabulous instrument is the perfect recorder to further advance your solo performance.

Amaranth originates from South America and is characterized by its exceptional stability. As a hard wood with a density of approx. 0.85 g/cm³, it produces a warm yet radiant sound rich in overtones.

Amaranth recorders are suitable for a wide range of musical purposes. Whether solo or in an ensemble, Rottenburgh recorders made of amaranth are true all-rounders and are the instruments of choice for anyone who loves the exceptional and wants to express musicality in a variety of ways! These Rottenburgh recorders are just the right fit: elegant and light.

Our grateful thanks to Moeck for their continued support of Recorder31.

Click here to view all Moeck recorders in Amaranth at The Early Music Shop, or visit the bottom of this blog page to revisit Sarah Jeffery's review of the range (filmed exclusively for Recorder31).

How to Enter

Simply send us your video before entries close on Sunday 30 August. Send your entry via email to recorder31@earlymusicshop.com or upload it to social media using the hashtag #Recorder31. (If entering on social media, we recommend sending us an email with a link, to make sure we don’t miss it!)

Please see the bottom of this blog page for full terms and conditions.

Recorder31 Playlists | Week Four: Recorder31 Artists

We've heard from some fabulous artists in this year's Recorder31 – with more to come this week! Today's playlist features just some of the recorder players you have heard from this month with a selection of their most recent, and most popular, tracks. Check it out and follow our account on Spotify to make sure you don't miss out on future playlists!

Could today be anything other than the Moeck Rottenburgh Soprano in Amaranth? Of course not! Click the play buttons to hear this recorder in action, and don't miss Sarah Jeffrey's review below! 

Sammartini Allegro:

Van Eyck Nightingale:

Scale:

Click here to watch Sarah Jeffery's review of the Moeck Amaranth range:

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Competition Terms & Conditions

• Entries must be submitted by midnight (BST) on Sunday 30 August 2026
• Judging for all Recorder31 competitions will take place in early September 2026 after which winners will be notified and announced on The Early Music Shop’s website and social media.
• Videos may be submitted by email to recorder31@earlymusicshop.com, or uploaded to social media. If entering via social media, please make sure the account/post is set up for public viewing, and that you tag The Early Music Shop @earlymusicshop using the hashtag #Recorder31 – we recommend sending us the link via email to make sure we don't miss your entry.
• Winning entries may be shared by The Early Music Shop on social media and online at www.earlymusicshop.com
• The prize recorder is available to one winner only, and it is not able to be exchanged for any cash alternative or replacement prize. The judges decide upon the winner, and their decision is final.

Good luck, and thank you for sharing your talents for this year's Recorder31!