A wind instrument that has survived almost unchanged for hundreds of years. The sound is generated at the block in the mouthpiece, as air passes at an angle to the cut of the wood. It's a bit like blowing over the top of a bottle. The bore is tapered, meaning that the width of the interior actually narrows as it approaches the bell. I'm no expert, but I believe that this is quite unusual for an instrument.
Recorders come in a wide range of sizes.
I have played soprano, alto and tenor recorders in the band, and Tom and Rachel also played occasional recorder parts in the first two lineups. It's about time someone invented this thing. The major innovation of the saxophone is its conical bore. That is, it's narrower toward the mouthpiece, and regularly widens out toward the bell. I play a Yamaha alto sax, but only in the studio.