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Betsy Sturdevant, author of this blog, is the Principal Bassoonist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
"Welcome, readers! This is a blog, not a website, which means that your input is welcome. Please offer your comments, questions and observations!"
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Columbus Symphony concert featuring Stravinsky Pulcinella
Columbus Symphony Shostakovich 10
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Fingering Diagram Builder, version 0.5 - I am pleased to announce the release of the Fingering Diagram Builder, version 0.5. The updates are mostly tech-nerdy stuff and won’t affect how you use it...3 days ago
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Looping with Google Glass - Nice, catchy little piece. And the first person view of the whole process is fun.
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Re-Imagining Arts Higher Education - With classes out of session, hopefully the middle of summer provides some time for those of us involved with arts higher education to reflect on our curric...10 months ago
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InstantEncore Concert Calendar
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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