Internal duct flutes fall into the group of instruments called woodwinds. The internal duct flutes known as recorders come in a variety of sizes that roughly compass corresponding vocal ranges.

• Soprano (aka "descant"),
• Alto (aka "treble")
• Tenor
• Bass

Originally these musical instruments were constructed of materials like ivory and wood. Recorders were first mentioned as far back as the 14th century - David Lasocki reported the use of recorders in the household of the then Earl of Derby, who was later throned as King Henry IV. It was popular throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, but was overlooked in favor of the flute later in the Classical and Romantic periods. Composers that wrote for the recorder include: Monteverdi, Vivaldi and Paul Hindemith.

Shakespeare included recorders in his play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark:

‘Ah, ha! Come, some music! come, the recorders! For if the king like not the comedy, Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. Come, some music!’