Flute

The Recorder, also referred to as a whistle in the game manual, is an item found only in The Legend of Zelda.

Location
The Recorder is hidden in the depths of the Lizard dungeon in the First Quest, and earlier in Moon dungeon in the Second Quest. As with most items in the game, it's hidden in a basement room.

Uses
The music of this item causes various effects. First, it allows Link to warp to any dungeon he has cleared; if he is facing north or west, he warps to the next dungeon; if he is facing south or east, he warps to the dungeon before the one he is at. The Recorder must also be used to dry up a body of water revealing the entrance to a dungeon; in the Second Quest, it can unveil hidden caves, as well as the entrance to the Dragon. Lastly, Digdogger is split into three smaller versions at the sound of the Recorder.

The Legend of Zelda comic
The Recorder also makes an appearance in the Legend of Zelda comic, although it goes by the name of Magic Whistle. As Zelda is getting ready to go inside the Eagle Labyrinth to practice fighting in Ganon's Underworld, Link reminds her that if she needs help at one point, she can just blow the Magic Whistle and he will be there to assist her. However, just as Zelda is telling herself that she will not call for Link's help at the first sign of danger, a Gohma appears behind her. a Gohma and Patra appear to attack her, and the princess, surprised that such enemies have appeared in an early level, admits to herself that the current situation is too tough for her. She decides to call Link by blowing the Magic Whistle, but when Link does not appear, Zelda realizes that something must have happened and sets out to save the young hero.

Animated series
The Recorder makes an appearance in the "Sing for the Unicorn" episode of the animated series, although it goes by the name of magic whistle; however, it serves the same purpose as the one in the game and even makes the same tune when played. Link finds it after he defeats a pair of Lynels. Once Princess Zelda zaps Ganon back into the Evil Jar, Link blows into the magic whistle to make a tornado appear that will take Zelda, Sing, her unicorn, King Harkinian and him warp out of the Underworld.

Trivia

 * The Warp Whistle from Super Mario Bros. 3 was based on the Recorder. When it is used, the same melody is played, and a whirlwind takes Mario to another location.
 * An extended version of the melody played by the recorder is played in the title screen of Ocarina of Time; moreover, the same melody can also be heard in a small sample from the music of the Forbidden Woods in The Wind Waker as well as in the music of the Wind Ruins from The Minish Cap.
 * In BS Zelda no Densetsu, the Recorder was replaced with a virtually identical Ocarina.
 * The melody is also used for the Ocarina of Wind in The Minish Cap.