This research guide, currently in its third edition, leads scholars researching the history and use of the recorder to printed materials. Performers can also use it to find information about repertoire and techniques. It has a selection of articles, books, dissertations, and theses that are devoted entirely to the recorder, or that include significant sections that are. The authors include historical teaching material in book form, articles on the topic of transcription and arrangement, reviews of included books, and all relevant articles from a selection of important periodicals. Coverage of English-language materials is more complete than that of materials in other languages. This bibliography excludes modern methods and exercises, most articles from mass-market magazines, writings on specific transcriptions and arrangements, articles on music originally written for instruments other than the recorder, ephemeral articles, and reviews of printed music and sound recordings.
There are 27 chapters organized by topic: (1-2) General Writings; (3) Etymology, Terminology, Symbolism, and Literary References; (4-5) Periods; (6) Size Studies; (7) Art and Iconography; (8) Humor, Fantasy, and Fiction; (9-15) Instruments, Makers, Collections, Construction, and Maintenance; (16-19) Pedagogy, Performance Practice, and Technique; (20-22) Individual and Ensemble Biographies; (23) Bibliographies and Discographies; and (24-27) Repertory. Within chapters, sources are further subdivided by type, then alphabetically by author. Entries contain standard bibliographic information with annotations. There is also an appendix titled “Communications in the FoMRHI Quarterly” and an index.
Abraham Myler, research assistant