As many of you know I have been building my recorder collection over the last few years (less beloved Kung sent back for revoicing ). I have thought of having A=415 recorders but never been able to justify them, however my teacher has put me and another pupil in touch with someone who does 'low pitch' consorts so this could be the perfect excuse!

I am interested in what people find good 415 trebles or descants, and any not outrageously expensive (no-one suggest maple). I have heard of low pitched recorder approaching the £1000 mark but I want to get as close to about £400 for a treble and £200 for descant as possible, without compromising too much on quality or reliability.

I used to own two very beautiful Roessler Oberlender recorders, a soprano and an alto. I am not sure if these are in production still but the EMS in bradford have second hand ones in their used instruments agency from time to time. They should be well within your price range.

Yes, I bought a lovely second hand Heinz Roessler Oberlender treble from EMS too, and sold it via their Used Instrument Agency for £400 a few years back. It had a most captivating sound, but a somewhat uneven response from some of the lower notes. Roessler Oberlenders are still made - see HERE.

Neil.Clarinet - The SRP website also features members' instruments for sale and is worth a peek.

One thing to note is that there are major differences in the tone and character of the voicing types used in baroque copy instruments. The classic English treble tradition exemplified by Bressan and the Stanesbys favours lower notes for a fuller, reedier sound, with a slightly huskier upper register, and a wide dynamic range.

Recorders after Denner, Rippert and Rottenburgh have a more even tonal range overall, whilst upper register notes speak more clearly and brilliantly. They don't sound as full or complex.

With this is mind you might (eventually) end up saving for another contrasting treble recorder as well!

Thanks Petrat and EMC. I had found the EMS second hand list a while ago but forgot all about it! Last I heard of Roessler they were being taken over by Mollenahuer, though not sure all the details. The tend to be cheaper but usually you get what you pay for. Doletsch 415s look good on paper but very pricey. I looked at Cranmore as well which seem way over the odds.

On the subjuct of voicings, I have noticed a difference in my Moeck Rottenburgh descant and Kung treble. The latter has a very reedy low register and sounds sumptuous, with a much lighter top register.

I have ordered the Oberlender treble on approval from EMS and am having a lesson with my teacher to get her opinion as well.

Can't wait.

Has it arrived yet Neil? If so what do you think of it? I regret having sold mine very much.

It has indeed arrived. First impressions are it is at least in tune with itself though is much darker sounding and even shallower than my Moeck or Kung recorders and harder to blow. Then again it is the same with my A clarinet compared to the Bb. I am having a recorder lesson on Tuesday specifically to see what my teacher thinks of it. It has slight wear to the thumbhole so may need bushed and the top F is hard, though not as bad as the Kung which didn't work at all without being slurred from E until revoiced.

To be honest I won't get that much use from it as most groups are 440 pitch, so I don't need a Rolls Royce 415 pitch for the sake of it. It might help with the networking a bit though, and some Baroque Sonatas sound very nice on it.

Will see what my teacher thinks of it. She is well placed to judge.

Is that the secret to getting involved in consort playing - being recommended by a teacher?

Not necessarily. I got involved in our consort by teaming up with less advanced members of the SRP who were without a group for the workshop. Though I am grade 8 myself, I had to start with some less advanced players to get experience of consort playing.

What I am saying is having a 415 pitch instrument might be more attractive to the more specialised players who are serious enough about their playing (of Baroque inparticular) to have low pitched recorders.

Being a member of this forum has its advantages in finding players interested in consort or other ensemble work too.

Your local SRP would, I'd say, be an excellent starting point for finding like minded souls for consort playing.

They weren't put off by your superior ability? Seriously, I've been turned down for consort playing by more than one recorder player on the grounds that "you're far too good for me - you play in a group" [i.e. the Exeter Recorder Orchestra].


If it is, it's a starting point I'm still stuck on. All the people who are interested in consort playing have been playing with the same people for many years and are not looking for anyone new.

Teacher is quite happy with it and thought it was a very good find. Will probably go back to get the thumb hole bushed and possibly revoiced as well, but even then it's still a bargain.

Sounds like a good deal Neil. I love the sound of 415's. I think that all recorders should carry passports so that when we buy pre-owned ones we would know their histories, previous owners, what events they have played in, repair histories etc.