From The Delightful Companion — Air
- Learn a slow air from a Baroque English instructional collection.
- Apply singing line to a non-sonata melodic piece.
About This Piece
Source: The Delightful Companion (London, 1682)
Time Signature: 4/4
Key: D Minor
Full Piece
A slow English air from one of the earliest English recorder instruction books.
Practice Tips
- Tempo: Quarter = 60. Slow but with forward motion.
- Line: The piece is melody only — treat it as a song with words you cannot quite hear.
Historical Context
The Delightful Companion was one of the first instructional collections for the recorder in English. Published in 1682, it contains airs, dances, and lessons for “the flute or recorder.” The book's mix of original compositions and simple arrangements of popular songs was typical of the period's amateur-aimed publications.
Performance Goal: A song without words. Make the listener wonder what the lyrics would be.
Next Steps
- Compare with the Playford airs and dances.
- Try the “singing” quality on a Handel slow movement.