I want to play it on the recorder! Carefully selected classic pieces and popular songs recommended

The sound of musicRichard Rodgers

The Sound of Music [Recorder 1] with Sheet Music

This famous song that opens the musical is a heartwarming piece that straightforwardly depicts the joy of the Alps’ nature and of music.

Following its 1959 Broadway premiere, it was sung in the 1965 film alongside sweeping Alpine scenery, etching itself into the memories of people around the world.

The movie soundtrack has sold over 20 million copies and was ranked 10th on the AFI’s “100 Years…100 Songs.” Its soaring melody is perfect for the recorder! Try expressing this hopeful song with your own flute.

GreensleevesInguranndo min’yō

Greensleeves Alto Recorder with Do-Re-Mi Fingering

This work, originating in 16th-century England, is marked by its hauntingly melancholic melody.

The lyrics, centered on heartbreak, tell a poignant tale of a male narrator who, despite lavish gifts and devoted service, is coldly rejected by a capricious woman.

Its subtly wistful mood pairs beautifully with the recorder’s simple timbre.

The piece is widely known in orchestral arrangements and as a Christmas carol, and is frequently used in films and television to evoke a medieval atmosphere.

Though simple, it offers rich expressive possibilities, making it a perfect next step for players who are becoming comfortable with fingerings.

Carrying YouInoue Azumi

Carrying You - Studio Ghibli 'Castle in the Sky' Played on Recorder [With Sheet Music]

A famous song by Azumi Inoue, known as the ending theme of the film Castle in the Sky.

Its wistful melody, woven with her clear, translucent vocals, resonates deeply.

After the film’s 1986 release, it was issued as a single in March 1988, and later re-released in 2000 and 2004.

One of the most beloved pieces among Studio Ghibli works and widely covered by many artists, this song is also perfect for the recorder! How about practicing it after watching the movie?

We Look Up to You with Respect

Revered Are the Masters Organ Alto Recorder CHICHIYA Music Band

This song, which has become firmly established across Japan as a graduation song, was actually released in 1884 and has been loved ever since.

It’s a masterpiece with such a modern feel that it’s hard to believe it was composed so long ago, but recent research suggests it was based on a piece published in the United States called “Song for the Close of School.” When performing memories of school, using the recorder—the instrument most often played at school—really helps convey heartfelt emotion.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

MinuetJ.S.Bach

Minuet J.S. Bach Recorder

The “Minuet” is often performed not only on the recorder but also on instruments like the piano.

If you play it in F major, it only has one flat and is easy to perform.

The melody climbs smoothly and includes some higher passages, which might be a bit challenging, but it’s a piece that works perfectly well at a slow tempo, so start by taking it slowly.

This piece is known as a work by Bach, but in fact it was originally composed by a composer named Petzold! It’s said that Bach gave the piece to his wife at the time without mentioning the composer, which led to the misunderstanding that it was Bach’s own work.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Spring StreamOkanoteiichi

Recorder | Elementary School | 3rd Grade "Spring Brook"

Here is a song that was published in 1912—over a hundred years ago—as a Ministry of Education school song for elementary students.

It has taken root in Japan and has been loved by people of all ages for many years.

After the river in present-day Yoyogi, Shibuya Ward, which is said to be the model for the river in the song, a monument to “Haru no Ogawa” (Spring Brook) has been erected; if you’re interested, why not go see it? Playing this refreshingly nostalgic tune on the recorder is sure to put you in a very pleasant mood.

It’s also well suited for performing as a round.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

EdelweissJohn Williams

Group recorder practice: “Edelweiss” with Do-Re-Mi (solfege) sheet music

This is a heartwarming piece from the film The Sound of Music, in which Captain von Trapp sings of his love for his homeland, Austria, inspired by the small white Edelweiss flower.

Its simple melody, written in a three-beat waltz, carries a gentle atmosphere reminiscent of Austrian folk songs.

Composed by Rodgers & Hammerstein in 1959, the 1965 film adaptation won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

With its calm tempo and gentle flow, it’s perfect for practicing slowly on the recorder.

Since it doesn’t go very high, it will sound beautiful if you relax your shoulders and breathe softly.

Please take your time to play this quiet, moving melody—filled with a prayer for one’s homeland—with care.