The 17th century Soprano recorders used to play the music of Jacob Van Eyck generally present, to a varying degree, the same structural problems, which are probably related to the few quality examples that have come down to us.
We can cite the very flat higher register, the difficult emission of high C, the tricky intonation requiring the use of many half-holes, the basses sometimes unstable, or a sound sometimes too close to a Baroque instrument.
This new 442 Hz recorder presents itself as a solution to these problems. The purity of the bore, in a slight regular cone, a wide window, as well as an optimization of the scale, gave birth to an extremely interesting instrument.
The mouthpiece can be delivered with a 442 Hz body with Van Eyck fingerings : easy to play, with a better intonation without acrobatics around the half-holes, reactive in the treble, with a full sound, and with equal and powerful bass.
The mouthpiece can also be used with a second body with Van Eyck fingering at 415 Hz pitch. If this pitch is not necessarily of the greatest historical authenticity for this type of instrument, it can be usefull when playing together to avoid a pitch change during a rehearsal or concert. Or simply for the pleasure of a different sound.
The mouthpiece is also compatible with a third body at 442 Hz with English Baroque fingerings, with its double holes and adjustable foot. This flute is more intended for traditional music, Jazz, or any other non-baroque repertoire. I baptized it Canto Mondo to illustrate its versatility
An ample and dynamic recorder, which in short is the perfect complement to a more delicate and refined Baroque Soprano.
