Thankfully the only positive aspect of the Greek musical education system is that it doesn't traumatize schoolchildren by excessive recorder practice. Actually there is no instrumental practice whatsoever.... So I had to buy a recorder for myself whne I was little, and tinker with it. I must say I got bored of it pretty quickly.
Be that as it may, in small doses it is a very welcome and evocative instrument - like in this track. I don't think I have ever encountered romantic, or 20th century-sequenza-like virtuosic writng for this instrument. Perhaps happily. It does seem however that the recorder is inextricably linked with, and shackled by Renaissance, or Renaissance-like aesthetics, probably due to its stubborn stereotypical use in such, as well as Medieval movies' soundtracks. It is a pity, since the instrument family seems to be able to carry melodies and emotions beyond what simple modal writing can offer.
I enjoyed this highly reverberated track, the recorder lending itself very aptly to William's favourite, sorrowful kind of melodic writing, and I most enjoyed the Herrmannesque harp writing towards the end.
