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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000035.txt from 2006/02

From: Geoff Rousell <bassoon@-----.uk>
Subj: [DR-L] Re: Ray Still/Heinz Holliger
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 15:08:16 -0500

Well I have to say it has been refreshing to have a topic that has
generated such a level of discussion on the list!

It has reminded me of the words of my last bassoon teacher at school. As
I was leaving school to go on to university he said that he had probably
come to the end of what he could teach me for the time being. His
recommendation was to listen to a lot of bassoon players, and when I
HEARD one that I liked the sound of, go to him/her for lessons.

Here I am, over 25 years later, and I'm still waiting! Actually of
course I love some aspect of nearly every bassoonist's playing, but I
often felt that to some extent a bassoonist has to be a "sonic
chameleon". Since you form the bass of the woodwind ensemble most of the
time you cannot be too strident, but when you do have those moments of
solo you have to change so that the distinctive sound of the instrument
can be heard above the hubbub. Therefore there is no "right" sound, just
"right in this ensemble" sound. My opportunities as outright soloist
have been few enough that I have not really attained (to my ear, at any
rate) a distinctive sound, but my beloved Fox does seem to blend as the
occasion requires...

Geoff

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