The recorder in rock music
I am researching the role of the recorder ('blokfluit') in rock music.The most famous recorder solo is of course Paul McCartney in Fool On The Hill. Brian Jones is next best in the Rolling Stones 1967 classic Ruby Tuesday.
I contacted Glenn Shannon from California, a modern day composer for recorder quartets. I asked Glenn for his professional opinion on the skills of Paul McCartney as a recorder player. My own is that Paul McCartney is a genius on the (bass) guitar but sucks big time on the recorder (a more difficult instrument than the guitar by the way).
Glenn Shannon, who admitted he didn't know Fool On The Hill, listened to the song and this is his reply: "His fingers and articulations are sloppy - but it is actually the perfect way to play it, rough and unsophisticated. And don't forget they were all on LSD, if not during the recording then at least during the songwriting. One of my ensembles is named "Hotte Ayre". "
In my own recorder quartet "KruisBes" I play the alto-part in Glenn Shannon's Bloomberg Codex. Especially measure 108 in the third movement is very difficult. I'm sure the genius Paul McCartney cannot play this. I'm still practizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQTRyYHIeMk
Please add your rock songs with recorder in it in the comments.
The debated sloppy solo starts at 2"00.
- Newsletter: