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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000043.txt from 2006/01
From: Isaac Bull <contrareed@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Single tongueing (Bassoon)
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:53:06 -0500
Hi Tim and thanks for your post
Tonguing speeds among wind players in general vary - some players are
blessed with the talent to be able to single tongue like the wind. Others
have naturally slower single tongues and tend to want to learn to double
tongue, sort of a branch out to another topic...
Unless you are faced with opposition in your section and/or conductor to
sluring some notes (which I expect would be rare) I suggest there is
nothing wrong with this at all - in fact far better than attempting to
tongue the whole thing and making a mess of it - cleaner is better and if
adding a slur or two helps go for it.
One thing I believe to be true and maybe this might promote some more
feedback from the list, is that most people can tongue a lot faster than
they think they can....
The keys to success are:
1. Support - low or no air support (abdominal muscles etc.) truly hamper
your tonguing ability and produce sluggish results. Always be aware and
provide as much support as possible for fast tongued passages - this will
add more speed and confidence as you practice it. Try and focus on getting
as firm as you can in the diaphragm / abdominal area.
2. use less reed - remember the reed is a valve and articulation is effected
when the vibrating reed is interrupted by the tongue. You only need a tiny
amount to be effective. Too much tongue will get in the way.
Of course it also goes without saying that a lot of building up speed is
from gaining confidence so start slower - you've got 80 - try starting at 72
and then increasing in small increments using a metronome - using varied
rhythms (dotted etc.) to give some variety.
I know some may think that bassoons aren't heard and it's not worth the
effort but if IMHO you can play this kind of passage with confidence it
makes a very big difference in the average Beethoven size orchestra.
Bassoons are a big boost to the cello / bass sound and a nice added colour.
To answer your initial question - 120 to the crotchet would seem reasonable
for an "average" player with some practice and focusing on the points I've
talked about.
Hope this is helpful.
Best wishes to all,
Isaac Bull,
Bassoon/contrabassoon
Freelance - Vancouver, B.C.
and legal assistant :)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Hunt" <tim@-----.uk>
To: <doublereed@-----.org>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 2:48 PM
Subject: [DR-L] Single tongueing (Bassoon)
> How fast should a typical player be able to manage?
>
> I know: what is a typical player?
>
> Anyway, I (amateur player) am currently grappling with the 3rd movement
> of Beethoven's 3rd Piano concerto. There are a couple of longish
> passages of tongued semi-quavers that need to go at about 120 crotchets
> per minute.
>
> So far I can to about 80 crotchets per minute. That's quite a lot slower.
>
> What exercises can one do to speed up?
>
> Actually, I am no longer very concerned about this, I found some
> recordings, and the bassoon seems to be drowned out by the strings in
> those parts anyway, so probably no one will notice if I slur them.
>
> Tim.
>
>
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