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Betsy Sturdevant, author of this blog, is the principal bassoonist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
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"Welcome, readers! This is a blog, not a website, which means that your input is welcome. Please offer your comments, questions and observations!"
My Blog List
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Favorite blog posts, October 2024 - Hand-picked high-quality woodwind-related blog posts from around the web, October 2024 edition. ------------------------------ If you enjoyed this blog p...3 weeks ago
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Blog MOVED to Website - BLOG has fully moved to my website (nadinamackie.com)please join me there!
2 years ago -
Care and Maintenance Seminar - *Get your bassoon quiet and clean for the Fall!* I will be conducting a 3-day Bassoon Care and Maintenance Seminar over Zoom. *Dates: *July 26th-28th *Ti...4 years ago
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Paris Conservatoire Contest Pieces for Bassoon - The Paris Conservatoire has, through its annual *concours* (contest), added a great number of works to the bassoon’s solo repertoire. Recently, I found mys...7 years ago
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“Giving Voices to the Voiceless”: Current Eastman Students Share Music with Prisoners - By Kameron Ghanavati This coming winter break, a group of Eastman students and alumni will head to prison to lead a five-day music workshop. In an effort t...7 years ago
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Come with us to Tumblr - We’ve moved our blog to Tumblr! Come join us, and read about our adventures.9 years ago
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Cello Perspectives With WFMT - I had the pleasure of participating in WFMT’s cello month, which is planning to broadcast Songs My Father Taught Me on January 31st at 10:00 PM Central Tim...10 years ago
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Vote Clark Bassoon Reeds! Fedex Small Business Grant - Dear Double Reed Friends,Clark Bassoon Reeds has entered the Fedex Small Business Grant Contest, $25,000 first prize. For eight years my business has grown...12 years ago
5 comments:
It's amazing how much easier a line can flow when you don't have to worry about stopping to breath. I heard Charles Neidich play the Brahms quintet circular breathing the whole time. He still phrased, but was able to match the long lines of the music better, much like the strings players were doing, without the hassle of everyone having to mark in a "breath" for the clarinet part to suck air.
I agree. I think that not having to worry about stopping to breathe can make a big difference, adding to the musical impact. Now the problem is figuring out how to do it effectively!
Betsy
Arthur Weisberg said you had to circular breathe in order to play any of the JS Bach transcriptions properly. I don't think you can play the Berio Sequenza without circular breathing, either.
Bryan, Mr. Weisberg's statement certainly makes sense. And circular breathing is required for certain contemporary compositions like the Berio. I don't think there's any way around it - bassoonists are going to have to get used to circular breathing!
Betsy
As if it's not hard enough to maintain embrochure on a double reed so intonation doesn't suffer... and then add standing while performing... the perfect storm?
We brought back a recording of an amazing didgeridoo player from Australia in 1997. They do some amazing things!
I tried a 7 foot long didgeridoo while we were there, but it was a dismal failure (but pretty funny at the same time). Contra is much easier!
Hugs from NJ :)
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