Welcome to the Rio Grande Recorder Society
Since 1991, we’ve brought together recorder players in southern New Mexico, USA. Our group is dedicated to the joy of making music together. Our mission is simple: to promote the recorder and provide a friendly, relaxed place for players of all levels to meet and grow their skills.
For more information on the various types of recorders, music and some of the devices we use to organize and play music, see our Examples page on playing music and devices we use. We are members of the American Recorder Society.
Join Us in Las Cruces, NM, USA
Whether you play soprano, alto, tenor, bass, great bass, or are brand new to the recorder, there’s a place for you here. We meet monthly to play a variety of music—from simple to complex—including Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and modern works.
Many of our members previously played modern instruments such as flute or clarinet and have found recorder ensemble playing to be a rewarding and enjoyable activity.
We encourage others in the southern NM and El Paso areas who are interested in learning more about the recorder and our group, see our About page.
About Modern Recorders
The recorder is a wind instrument developed in Europe in the 14th century. It was widely used for art music in the 15th and 16th centuries. Because of its long history, it is frequently featured in Renaissance and Baroque music.
Composers who wrote for the recorder include Monteverdi, Lully, Purcell, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach, Hindemith, and Berio. Today, the recorder is played in more than 100 countries around the world.
About our Music
During the Renaissance, prominent composers included Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Thomas Tallis, Claudio Monteverdi, William Byrd, and Orlando de Lassus.
As music transitioned into the Baroque period, influential composers included Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Henry Purcell, Domenico Scarlatti, and Jean‑Baptiste Lully.
Rio Grande Recorder Society 