Mollenhauer TE-4118 Dream Edition Soprano Reviews

A bit different

I love the sound of this recorder, but the finger hole positions and finger hole sizes are slightly different from standard soprano recorders. If you are new to the recorder, this can be a bit frustrating, but it is a very nice sounding instrument for a more experienced player.

Lovely sweet instrument

I've played on Mollenhauer "Dream" recorders for almost fifteen years now, and decided that I wanted a soprano with a more refined sound for a concert I was giving back in December. Compared to the pearwood version, this instrument has a much smoother, sweeter sound with a fairly good response. The top few notes require more finesse and precision from the player (they don't just "pop out" like they do on a baroque instrument) but unlike a Renaissance replica recorder, they do come out with attention and practice. The only caution I would give is that if you're trying to be a soloist with more than a couple of quiet instruments, you might want a more assertive sound; I played with guitar and harpsichord and it worked very well. Perfect for consort work though!

Great intermediate/beginner transitional style instrument

The dreams series is great if you want to have the overall renaissance blend of a wide bore instrument, but still want to responsiveness of a baroque or modern instrument.

Likeable

I like this recorder. It has a different sound to, for example, a moeck rottenburgh. The tone has softer more rounded "edges" but still retains focus and a bit of bite and edge unlike, for example, a maple renaissance or ganassi recorder.

Volume is good. Intonation is good. I can produce an in tune top C# with an adjusted fingering and a little effort. I like the way it has been voiced, the windway is not so curved and narrow as on the alto which sounds more or less just like another baroque recorder and has weak low notes like a baroque recorder. This descant (soprano) still isn't incredibly loud but it does have good volume and I just find it a very likeable instrument and would recommend this but not the alto due to the shape of the windway and the way Mollenhauer chose to voice it.

one of the best

This is a super instrument, the sound is rich and full. I am so pleased with this buy, and the service, as always from this company is one of the best, online. Well done.Great communication, and good tracking is provided.