Big Recorders

[Stephen Bacon]

Bob Marvin of BC is in many ways considered the father of renaissance recorders, as every maker alive today is influenced by his work. As he is a true leadite he is next to impossible to access on line. One will find him in the Galpin society journal and the FoMRHI (Fellowship of makers and researchers of historic Instruments) journal. Here is a video of him for those of you like me who have never had the opportunity to meet the man directly.
http://bobmarvinrecorders.wordpress.com/

[Nicholas Blanton]

Thanks for the link, Stephen. I guess you mean Luddite? He seems more like someone who has simply discarded useless things- why have two gloves that fit perfectly, and an un-torn knit cap, if what you have keep you worm? His point about how a lot of the early craftspeople directed their skills at being able to produce something workable quickly, because they were in a more precarious financial position, is very insightful. I have seen this in old work myself, both in design and execution. You could point at Cremona circa 1700 as not fitting that model, but Cremona was in a very special place, profiting from a century of specialization in violins and a great flowering of popularity for string orchestras and composition- and it lost out to cheaper production in Venice in the mid century when people stopped wanting to pay top dollar for instruments.

[Alan Block]

I have a basset by Martin Skowronek. I cannot find much information on him although I am sure mine arrived here before the rules on ivory were tightened up.