The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The most Tolkien-Oriented music you make

mark12_30 · 01-27-2004, 07:45 AM

Dragoneyes and other Recorder-meisters: Since Concerning Hobbits **must** be playable on a Recorder, and the perky parts required a few more high notes than I knew the fingerings for, I wanted a recorder fingering chart.

(I have a pennywhistle chart already: Pennywhistle: for the second octave, just blow harder...)

Soooo--- Yesterday I bought a recorder that came with a handy fingering chart. Thrills! The gist of it is this: for the second octave, the fingerings are pretty similar to the first octave except for the thumbhole (on the back at the top.) To get most of the second octave you just slide your thumb 1/3 to 1/4 of the way off the hole. In other words you let a little teeny bit of air out of the thumbhole-- not much at all-- just 1/4 of the hole. And then you blow harder.

Try it when you're alone, because it's challenging at first (squeeeee-honk) but once you get it it's not bad. The main thing is 1/4 opening under the thumb, and then breath control; for high notes the breath has to push more from your gut, like singing high notes. Both come from your abdomen...

So anyway, buying the recorder was worth it just for the fingering chart-- and now I have an extra plastic recorder anyway. ($3.99-- music has never been so cheap! Everyone should have one at that price.)

So, Middle-Earth Recorder-Meisters, both current and aspiring, I will try to post a complete fingering chart one of these days. (what's elvish for Meister, I wonder...?)

Next question: We've got Guitar players, piano players, flute/pennywhistle/recorder players... brass-players... We need elvish names for 'em all. I guess the flute/whistle/recorder players can be honorary Daerons. Any harpists out there?

Incidentally, a quiet, unassuming, not-bad-little-beginner's-harp can be easily made from two-by-fours, nails, screw-eyes, a couple of rods, and some heavy fish string (hundred-pound test is best, but whatever.)

harp

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:51 AM January 27, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

01-27-2004, 07:45 AM	#58
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Dragoneyes and other Recorder-meisters: Since Concerning Hobbits must be playable on a Recorder, and the perky parts required a few more high notes than I knew the fingerings for, I wanted a recorder fingering chart. (I have a pennywhistle chart already: Pennywhistle: for the second octave, just blow harder...) Soooo--- Yesterday I bought a recorder that came with a handy fingering chart. Thrills! The gist of it is this: for the second octave, the fingerings are pretty similar to the first octave except for the thumbhole (on the back at the top.) To get most of the second octave you just slide your thumb 1/3 to 1/4 of the way off the hole. In other words you let a little teeny bit of air out of the thumbhole-- not much at all-- just 1/4 of the hole. And then you blow harder. Try it when you're alone, because it's challenging at first (squeeeee-honk) but once you get it it's not bad. The main thing is 1/4 opening under the thumb, and then breath control; for high notes the breath has to push more from your gut, like singing high notes. Both come from your abdomen... So anyway, buying the recorder was worth it just for the fingering chart-- and now I have an extra plastic recorder anyway. ($3.99-- music has never been so cheap! Everyone should have one at that price.) So, Middle-Earth Recorder-Meisters, both current and aspiring, I will try to post a complete fingering chart one of these days. (what's elvish for Meister, I wonder...?) Next question: We've got Guitar players, piano players, flute/pennywhistle/recorder players... brass-players... We need elvish names for 'em all. I guess the flute/whistle/recorder players can be honorary Daerons. Any harpists out there? Incidentally, a quiet, unassuming, not-bad-little-beginner's-harp can be easily made from two-by-fours, nails, screw-eyes, a couple of rods, and some heavy fish string (hundred-pound test is best, but whatever.) harp <font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:51 AM January 27, 2004: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.