Recorders Part of the reason is, since the recorder uses some cross-fingerings in every key, the rapid-fire ornamentation of Irish traditional tunes is not easily produced. Also the tone of the recorder, though sweet, has a focused edge which many whistle players find unpleasant.
There are exceptions, however, to everything, and the exception to the above is the excellent singer and recorderist Emma Christian, who plays the recorder in the ornamented style of the wooden flute, and does it very well indeed.