Alto recorder c. 1700

Curator: It feels ancient, almost like an artifact unearthed from a lost civilization, don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely! It radiates history, doesn’t it? We’re looking at an alto recorder, crafted around 1700 by Albertus van Heerde. Curator: Albertus who now? I love the anonymity of such an artwork and object. Editor: Indeed. This piece reminds us that cultural production extends beyond paintings or sculpture. What does a simple recorder invoke? Curator: It evokes the quiet murmur of baroque music. Before the grand orchestras, perhaps, the simple melody carried the soul of the era. Imagine someone pouring their emotion, even secrecy, through that very instrument. Each hole there has so much intention to them. Editor: Absolutely. And this recorder, it’s fashioned from wood. A tactile, organic material that resonates deeply. Think of all those textures. Does the wood lend it warmth, even softness? Curator: Yes. This is more than just a musical instrument; it's a symbol. For me it embodies skill, intention and memory, which transform inert material into sound and art. Think about all the other art or literature or ideas that got written and performed with its subtle sounds! It reminds us that something of value remains in the material. Even once that artistic work and creative time has ended! Editor: Yes, absolutely! This little wooden tube serves as a testament to art, performance, but really to ourselves, and to art. Curator: Such a good, beautiful thought! It also underscores, if you allow me to keep the metaphors humming along, our transient moment inside a larger, louder harmony that persists much longer than ourselves.