The birth of a recorder

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Joel Meyer designs a plan to construct a new recorder. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

A finished Meyer recorder built according to the construction plan of an original baroque instrument. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Boxwood is one of the hardest European woods. It is particularly suitable for the manufacture of musical instruments. The rings are very close together so the the wood is dense. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

The wood is cut to length and then turned. Each piece of wood must be carefully selected and must not have too many grooves. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Before Joel Meyer drills the hole, he centers the middle section with a special machine. He then drills the cylindrical pilot hole. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Joel Meyer checks the precision of the drilling. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

The Meyers have three different studios in different locations. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Sebastian Meyer decorates the outer profile of a recorder baroque designs. Measurements of original baroque instruments serve as a template. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Madeleine Imbeck stains the instrument with ordinary hair dye. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Joel Meyer engraves the thin wooden tongue (labium) that is responsible for producing the sound, with the chisel. The side edges of the labium are shaped with special knives made by the artist himself. The young entrepreneurs have to make many tools themselves. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Sebastian Meyer carefully makes a part that is inserted into the mouthpiece and is vital to produce the right tone. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Joel Meyer works the central tunnel with a tool he made himself. The shape of the tunnel is decisive for the sound of the recorders and must be accurate to 0.05mm. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

The indent for the holes should allow the fingers to hold only one or both holes closed. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

Another recorder is ready. The tone holes and the recorder are fine-tuned. Ester Unterfinger/swissinfo.ch

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