7 In F Major
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Common baroque recorder keys are C and F major, and related "minor" keys. These keys unlock the baroque repertoire. We've learnt the C major scale, now for the F one.
First we need high F. Here it is:
It sounds like this:
Like other top octave notes, the thumbhole is pinched. The left hand fingering is R1, R2 and R3 (similar to low C), right hand is R1 and R3. If you can play a high E, then the high F should come easily enough. Try this exercise:
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The F to E (first two notes) is tricky, as R2 goes down while R3 comes up. Imagine R2 is a lever pushing R3 up.
Assuming the exercise went OK, we now have a low F (from last lesson) and a high one. Time to play the F major scale?
Actually, not yet. We need another note, B flat, or Bb. Here is is:
No pinched thumbhole here. The left hand fingers are LTh, L1 and L3, right hand is R1 only. Looks simple, don't be fooled. The raised L2 means fingers go up and down together when moving between Bb and its neighbours. You'll spend many (happy) hours getting this fingering right. All recorder players do. I'm still working on it. Start with this exercise:
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If this came easily, you're a born recorder player. The rest of us have to work at it. The Bb to C in the second bar is tough, three fingers come down while one goes up. Practice this move slowly, get the three fingers to work as one. The Bb to F jump which follows also has three fingers going down, with R3 and R4 landing on the bottom hole.
Over time, your fingers will adjust so they automatically position themselves to land correctly. This skill is learnt through repetition of exercises like the one above. Keep at it until it becomes somewhat easier.
Now the F major scale and arpeggio.
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The scale and arpeggio are played slowly here, to allow your fingers time to land correctly. Your breath will most likely not last to the end. Choose a place to breath before starting each exercise, perhaps at the end of each scale /arpeggio, more often if need be.
The F major scale has one flattened note, B flat. The key signature, shown left, indicates this.
From the mid 18th century onwards, composers began including "dynamic" markings with their music. That is, instructions for how loud or soft music should be played, also whether the volume was to increase or decrease. Most recorder music was written before this time, and hence dynamic markings do not appear. Moreover, the recorder has a limited dynamic range compared to most other instruments. If a recorder note is played too loud it becomes "sharp" (the pitch rises), likewise the pitch drops if the note is played too softly.
Modern editions of pre 1750 recorder music do not include dynamic markings, as the composers would never have used them. However some older recorder music editions have dynamic markings. These were added by modern editors, and do not necessarily reflect the intent of the original composers.
Nonetheless, dynamic markings are common in contemporary pieces, so they are outlined below:
As this lesson shows, the F major scale is not easily mastered. However it greatly increases the scope of baroque music available to us. Explore some of it at the library below.
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Rigaudon
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The Glory of the Kitchen
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Grave
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