GANASSI RECORDERS

The so called "Ganassi" recorder used today is not strictly speaking an early instrument, but rather a contemporary idea freely based on the renaissance alto recorder in g n° SAM 135 in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

This original is probably not a solo instrument, but may simply have been part of a consort. It has the normal range of a consort recorder (an octave and a sixth). The high note fingerings given in La Fontegara cannot be used on it. Complete technical information about this recorder can be found in the museum catalogue.

On the other hand, the modern version above, which is somewhat different from the original, has a range of two and a half octaves with Ganassi fingerings.

The Ganassi recorder may not be the most suitable instrument for playing pre-baroque music, since none of the 17th century charts mention its fingerings.

For the 17th century repertoire, look up the transitional recorders.