The tenor recorder has the lowest tonal range in the recorder family with the same shape of construction. The lower version, the bass recorder, has a separate mouthpiece, much like bassoon. Another recorder with a lower tonal range is the contrabass recorder which sounds almost two octaves lower than the tenor version.

Recorders are usually made of wood or plastic. Their sound is thin and piercing. Like the piccolo, it can easily audible in the orchestra. Most often the recorder is used as a solo instrument or as a group, for example, in the school classroom.

It is not an expensive instrument and is relatively easy to play, but to control the instrument in a virtuoso manner calls for high-level skills like with any other instrument. The recorder professionals often specialize in old music.

Recommended combinations:

Alto recorder with a string instrument
Alto recorder with violin
Alto recorder with cembalo