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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000041.txt from 2006/02

From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Re: Ray Still/Heinz Holliger
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 20:17:49 -0500

Geoff,
In my experience, it is rare that the bassoon has to work hard to be the
chameleon, to blend well. Alas, the bassoon is such a gregarious fellow that
he wishes to blend with any and everything; the big challenge is usually to
wade through the mud and be heard.
Herb

On 2/3/06 12:06 PM, "Geoff Rousell" <bassoon@-----.uk> wrote:

> 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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