Recorders

The book is presented in homage to the Australian recorder maker Frederick G. Morgan (1940–1999) who profoundly influenced the development of the early music movement and the quality of recorder making. 54 authors from fifteen countries – including many of the world’s best recorder players and instrument makers – describe their interaction with him, giving astonishing insights into the relationship between the artist and the instrument in the search for expression through music. Fred Morgan’s own essays about recorder making and original instruments, which are here assembled together for the first time, compliment these personal accounts and artistic reflections; his particularly clear and penetrating style make the fascinating story of the revival of the recorder accessible to all. For this book stunning new images of the Frans Brüggen Recorder Collection were made. These are precious, original instruments from the 18th century, whose value has been further enhanced by the accurate and legendary drawings of them made and previously published by Fred Morgan. They represent the historic inheritance of old recorders whose quality to this day is still the ideal. Thus, a brilliant kaleidoscope is provided – a formidable text book and an illuminating picture book – that transcends the appreciation of a single recorder maker: it shows in essence how intimately instrument making and musical practice are interwoven and traces the continuous conversation between builder and musician. Fred Morgan made unique instruments of the highest quality for which players would wait up to ten years to receive. He had the vision to ensure that his knowledge and achievements could be made more available to players through his cooperation with larger workshops. In this spirit, a partnership between Mollenhauer Recorders, Fulda/Germany, and The Morgan-Workshop, Daylesford/Australia, was drawn up in 2002 which aims to conserve and continue Fred Morgan’s work. Compiled by: Gisela Rothe studied the recorder with Winfried Michel in Münster/Germany, Walter van Hauwe, Amsterdam, and Matthias Weilenmann, Zurich. At Mollenhauer Recorders she gives lectures and seminars for recorder players and is the chief editor of the periodical Windkanal. Illustrator/Photographer: Markus Berdux is a woodwind instrument maker and certified master craftsman. Photography and graphic design have become his second profession: since 1997, he is the graphic designer for Mollenhauer Recorders.