Baroque Recorder Evaluation Sheet
The recorder seems a simple instrument but it's challenging to make really good ones. This is because there are many musical elements to balance within the simple form. Here's a way to evaluate your recorder based on 15 strengths both musical and physical. You are welcome to download and print this sheet to discover more about your instrument, or to gather your thoughts when trying out several instruments.
I hope that if you take some time with this system you'll get to know your recorders better. The optimization work I do consists of trying to boost each of these elements as high as possible for that instrument. Of course, higher numbers mean only one thing ultimately: more delight in playing!
P.S. You'll see that Tone Quality and Tuning are each a single number (thus with more weight to reflect their importance) and the other categories have sub-elements which can be averaged. The Overall number is then the average of the six categories.
I hope that if you take some time with this system you'll get to know your recorders better. The optimization work I do consists of trying to boost each of these elements as high as possible for that instrument. Of course, higher numbers mean only one thing ultimately: more delight in playing!
P.S. You'll see that Tone Quality and Tuning are each a single number (thus with more weight to reflect their importance) and the other categories have sub-elements which can be averaged. The Overall number is then the average of the six categories.
| recorder_evaluation.pdf |
EXAMPLEType: Zen-On Bressan G-1A "Giglio" alto
Description: A=415, ABS resin, brand new Overall 8.4 Tone Quality 8.8 Other Sound Elements 8.4 Volume 8.3 Evenness 8.7 Flexibility 8.2 Response (ease & strength) 8.7 High Register 9.2 Low Register 8.9 Reliability 8.0 Tuning 9.1 With normal alternate fingerings for high Eb, G Windway 8.2 Resistance, Breath Use 8.8 Non-clogging 7.5 Physical 7.2 Materials 7.0 Appearance 7.3 Condition 10.0 Sustainability 5.0 Lifespan 6.5 ©2021 Werner John TLCrecorder.net |
I use a rating system of 5.0 to 10.0. The way I use this system, the very best instruments usually come out overall between 9.0 and 9.3. That's because no recorder is maximal in every way and some of the strengths actually oppose each other.
9.0 and above I consider professional level. 10.0 the best imaginable example of that strength 9.5 quality of the finest handmade instruments 9.0 quality of handmade instruments 8.5 quality of the best mass produced instruments 8.0 quality of good mass produced instruments 7.5 quality of average mass produced instruments 7.0 quality of usable mass produced instruments 5.0 barely functional |