Until recently I had never found a tenor recorder I could play. Last April, I tried out, and subsequently bought, a Dolmetsch Nova plastic tenor at the SRP festival. I can play it, but bottom C and C# are a bit hit and miss, and my right hand feels uncomfortable after playing.

I decided to take the plunge and play tenor for the last two SRP meetings, to see how I felt after I'd been playing it for a whole afternoon. By the end of yesterday, provided I used the sling which Dolmetsch thoughtfully provide, I was getting more and more comfortable, and enjoying it more and more. I think, as a flautist, I'm feeling happier playing a C instrument, and one that is physically the same size and pitch as the flute. Tenor parts are also good to play.

So I'm now wondering about investing in a decent tenor, but preferably one that won't damage my right hand through over-stretching. I think a knick tenor might be the best bet, and I tried someone's out yesterday that has G and D keys as well (like the keys on the bass). It's made by Aura.

Has anyone on the forums had experience of different makes of tenor, especially those designed for the manually-challenged?

Interesting you should post this because the other day I was browsing the web when I noticed that in an effort to allow players of all ages and sizes to play a tenor recorder, Moeck are producing what they call a "short-bore" instrument.

I haven't seen one, so I don't know whether it's a knick tenor or a specially designed bore that allows the instrument to be slightly shorter in length and with the holes closer together.

As a small-handed person myself, I know how uncomfortable tenors can be for the right hand. My short little finger doesn't help either

I can thoroughly recommend the Mollenhauer Canta Knick tenor - and that isn't just because we sell them!

Liz

I've played some Moeck knick tenors which were quite nice Not that I like knick recorders...

Well since you are a flautist, I DON'T reccomend Kung models, as the C is on the right, and the C# on the left...and that's just plain awkward!!! Even if you get a keyless tenor, Dolmetsch will fit keys for finger 7

??? I didn't think Moeck made a knick tenor?

Liz

What's the right hand stretch like on the keyed knick Mollenhauer, Liz?

I find it not much bigger than on a treble - very comfortable. Certainly much less than on my Moeck. I haven't measured it though. You might find some nice dealer to send you one on approval if you asked around

liz

It was at the Stretford SRP festival!

Are you sure, Chris? I didn't see it. Are you sure you're not thinking of the Mollenhauer? EMS were the only stall there likely to have had a knick tenor and their catalogue doesn't list one by moeck.

Liz

Touche

Andante - I have a satinwood tenor handcrafted by Dolmetsch to my own specification. I have very small hands and the series of keys I have on this instrument have opened up a whole new repertoire to me. PM me for more details as I have contacts!

Bag x

I might have to wait until next month. We've just received an enormous credit card bill (two sons who needed new contact lenses, a six month bus pass and a holiday deposit added to Christmas) so I don't think I can have one just yet. And I have a birthday coming up...

Ah, birthdays are useful things!

Liz

I have a Kung knick tenor in pearwood, bought on Ebay, but originally from Saunders recorders - it is simply the best recorder ever!!!!! We have a ridiculous number of recorders in our family - all sorts and types, some wooden, some plastic - the Kung knick is BEAUTIFUL!!! Go for it!

Thanks, Bagpuss. I've only just spotted this. I'll pm you.

Slightly off topic: Andante did you ever get my email?

Yes, I did, but I couldn't work out how to reply to it. I wasn't around the Forums much at the time, and by the time I came back on, I forgot to pm. Sorry!

I don't think I had much in the way of help for you, though.

I fell in love with the Nova tenor at the Greenwich festival in November, the lower notes aren't brilliant but it has a powerful clean tone right up into the 2nd octave. I think you'll need to spend a fair ammount of cash before you find one that is enough of an upgrade to make it worthwhile.

I have very small hands and find most tenors quite painful in the right hand, the Nova isn't perfect but a lot better than many I tried. Dr Blood (the Dolmetsch guru on their stand) tried demonstrating a technique using the 1st joint of the finger below the pad (think low D whistle players) but I can't get the hang of it at all. It might also help to hold the instrument slightly further out from your body

This may sound utterly counter-intuitive but it is worth looking seriously at the keyless tenors. In all cases when a manufacturer produces both I found the 3rd finger stretch less of a problem on the key free version. The tone colour of the low C and C# also seems more even to me without the keywork. I have a Fehr bubbinga wood tenor that is about the most comfortable tenor I've tried and has a gorgeous rich tone especially on the lower notes.

I read somewhere instructions for turning a normal recorder into a knick- basically saw across the headjoint at your choice of angle- probably about 60 degrees- with a fine saw, rotate along cut and glue back together. Then play with the head joint pulled out by the thickness of the saw blade to compensate for length lost in dust. Not something I would do to an expensive instrument, but I am very tempted to experiment next time I have one of those out of tune plastic descants which needs to be put out of its misery or if I find a tenor in a charity shop!

Many thanks to all who've responded so far. There are several possibilities; I'll just have to decide which one makes the best solution overall, taking finance into account.

One thing I've realised is that I can play far better sitting down than standing up. As I'm likely to play the tenor in ensemble rather than solo, would it be OK to buy one that I can play comfortably sitting, or should I go for one that would be comfortable standing as well? I know there are one or two solo tenor pieces on various syllabuses, but how likely is it that I will need to play standing?

To be honest, I can't think of a reason why a tenor should be suitable only to be played sitting.

You mean you WANT to play Fragmente?

Liz

No, no! It was an abstract question. I haven't been in a position to even think about playing any tenor pieces, let alone go as far as looking at them.

When I'm sitting, I play with the tenor to the side (a suggestion made by jo.clarinet which works), but the angle of my fingers to tenor changes when I stand - as noticed by my impartial observer katyjay yesterday. I can't get the recorder to the same angle as regards my body for physical reasons I won't go into here.

I just bought my tenor recorder yesterday. YAY!

I'll let you know how I go next week when it's finished soaking and ready for my playing (for medical reasons, everything has to be soaked). The key came "to assemble". Are these hard to put together?

I got an angel tenor.


S.

An interesting update...

Having borrowed Suepea's Yamaha tenor this afternoon (see embarrassing day thread for the reason ) I found it much more comfortable than my Nova. I've always heard that Yamahas are considered stretchy, so I was amazed. I had some staccato octave D leaps in one part, and got the bottom D with no trouble at all. I'm now considering buying a Yamaha (it will match the descant, treble and bass I already have) while I save up for a wooden one.

I'm suprised that you find the Yamaha 304 tenor more comfortable as it can be quite stretchy for the right hand. Oh yes, the low D is quite sweet on mine too.

I have recently inherited my mother's zen-on. My hands are titchy but I can reach all the holes on this (though I still cannot get a satisfactory bottom C).

Much as I love playing the treble, and I have a very nice descant to play, I to am smitten with my tenor. The next job is to purchase some decent repertoire.

At college I played at approc Grade 6 standard, and have not deteriorated since then.

I've just (at the fourth time of trying) managed to get hold of a secondhand Yamaha tenor on ebay for a reasonable amount. So I should be set in the short term, which gives me a bit longer to try out various options in the long term.

Yes, I have a Zen-on too. It's the only tenor recorder I can play in relative comfort...

W