Music - Recorder Orchestra Library


Note: this page is no longer being updated as of May 2019. See our new searchable Music Libraries.

With this library of downloadable recorder music, the ARS is pleased to recognize our Recorder Orchestra category of membership, and composers and arrangers who have written or arranged music for Recorder Orchestra. These may be original works, or arrangements of existing works of any genre, with a minimum of five parts specifically for recorder (with possible accompaniment of other instruments). These works are available for download to logged-in ARS members by clicking on the provided links below. Non-members may view a preview and listen to a sound sample, if available. For information about joining ARS, click HERE. Please note that the ARS does not specifically endorse nor commission any of the works provided on this page. We hope you enjoy playing these pieces! Please observe any copyright limitations requested by the composer.

If you are a composer/arranger interested in sharing your music for Recorder Orchestra on this website, please contact the ARS office (director@americanrecorder.org).


 

An Evening Hymn
Henry Purcell, 1688, arr. Greta Haug-Hryciw

Originally for solo soprano voice and organ, Purcell set to music text by Dr. (Bishop) William Fuller (1608-1675). In this arrangement for recorders, there are 8 voices: Alto, Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass 1, Bass 2, Great Bass in C, Contrabass in F (and/or Sub-Great Bass in C), and an optional line for Sub-Contrabass.

The ground bass of this chaconne is established by the lower voices, which play steadily throughout. It is most effective when the half-notes in the pattern are played slightly detached, the first half-note of each bar a little long, giving it weight, and the third half-note a little shorter, allowing the players to catch a short breath at the end of each bar. This pattern is repeated until the last bar of the ground, when the first half-note is slightly shortened to give (unaccented) weight to the whole note that follows. The melody is carried by the two tenors and the alto, but if you have more than one player on a part, be sure to put your extra players on the tenor lines. The middle voices provide Purcell’s beautiful harmonies and add to the joyous Baroque style that comes out in the hallelujas. Take care that the dotted figures are not played as triplets, but as true dotted figures.

For a brief and interesting analysis of this work (Z 193 in the Purcell catalog), visit Todd Tarantino’s web page on the subject. He offers a link to a few Youtube recordings which can give you a good sense of the music and its emotion: http://www.toddtarantino.com/hum/purcell_eveninghymn.html.

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An Evening Hymn

Flight of Fancy
James Chaudoir, composer, 2008/rev. 2013

Flight of Fancy, scored for recorder orchestra in ten parts (‘NSSAATTBgBcB), is rather, a “bird fancyer’s delight”.  This fantasy movement is filled with a cacophony of sounds mimicking birds great and small both in flight, and fluttering about in animated excitement.  The main theme consists of a rapid burst of sixteenth notes, and is introduced by a soprano recorder.  This run of sixteenths is developed throughout the piece with rhythmic variations created by careful placement of rests to further intensify its pulsating energy through syncopation.  Sound columns in notes of longer duration periodically interrupt the perpetual motion of the continuous sixteenth notes.  A final uproar of high-spirited and chirpy dissonance brings the piece to a close.

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An Evening Hymn

Dusty Rag
May Aufderheide c. 1910, Arr. by David Kemp

Dusty Rag is composed by one of the few female ragtime composers of the period, May Auferdeide. The title is an obvious joke about cleaning house. There are many more exciting recorder orchestra arrangements available on my website, www.recordermusic.us.

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An Evening Hymn

Country Club - Ragtime Two Step
Scott Joplin 1909, Arr. by David Kemp

"Country Club" was classified by Scott Joplin as a ragtime two step. I have arranged this well know melody for SATBGbCb recorders. Enjoy. There are many more arrangements available for recorder orchestra at RecorderMusic.us (Yes, dot 'us' is a viable internet address) Please visit my website for more recorder orchestra literature.

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An Evening Hymn

Peacherine Rag
Scott Joplin 1901, Arr. by David Kemp

"Peacherine Rag" by Scott Joplin is fun to play and pleasant to the ear. I have arranged this 4 minute composition for SnSATBGbCb recorder Orchestra. Enjoy. There are more Recorder Orchestra arrangements available at RecorderMusic.us which is my website.

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An Evening Hymn

1922 - a Brazilian Tango
Ernesto Nazareth 1922, Arr. by David Kemp

Ernesto Nazareth is a well respected Brazilian composer. This Tango entitled "1922" was the perfect transcription for my website, RecorderMusic.us, which is my attempt to broaden the repertoire available for recorder ensembles. My friend, Alice Derbyshire, asked me to contribute and in her honor here is a 'Tango'. The lower voice get to have lots of fun.

I have arranged this lovely piece for SnSATTBGbCb recorder orchestra. Enjoy. There are more arrangements and compositions available at RecorderMusic.us.

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An Evening Hymn

Schlof Mein Kind
Traditional arr. 1911, Arr. by David Kemp

Schlof Mein Kind (Sleep My Child) is a traditional Yiddish Soothing Song published in 1912 by a Leo Vinz in Berlin. The arrangment for Voice & Viola with Piano by A. Schitomirski is an excellent representation of Yiddish folk song decorated in the traditional style and has worked out very well for recorder orchestra (SAATBGbCb).

This arrangement is offered free of charge in memory of the millions of families and individuals who would not survive the next 40 years. Other arrangements and original works for recorder are available at my website, RecorderMusic.us. Thank you visiting my site.

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An Evening Hymn