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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 2006/12

From: "Lawrence Rhodes" <primobassoon@-----.net>
Subj: [DR-L] Re: BASSOON: question about Nutcracker Bsn 1 part
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:40:23 -0500

Subject: BASSOON: question about Nutcracker Bsn 1 part
Message-Id: <B23229D2-C204-4511-AA42-BF3D2EE05D2D@-----.edu>

Hi, everyone:

I've got a question about our favorite piece, The Nutcracker. One
annoying passage (of many), is at near the end of Waltz of the
Snowflakes (the end of Act I). At the final Presto section, in 2/4
there is a difficult slur from high G down to Middle C (the actual
passage is: eighth rest, G-sixteenth down to C-sixteenth, back up to
eighth-G, then another G sixteenth down to C-sixteenth and finally
back up to G-eighth).

I use the standard fingerings as Hertzberg teaches. Using the standard c
key to make sure the c speaks. You could apply the wisperkey to make the g
speak but you might try variations. No wisper, c key. Wisper, ckey. I
play that passage as loud as possible. I really clip the G. Each time it's
like a new attack. Different reeds. Different bocals. They all make a
difference for response. I haven't had an issue with that particular
passage (Maybe I'm just accepting it as the passage is covered up with a
FortisisimoFFF) but after many years of playing I've only felt comfortable
playing the Nutbuster in the last 10 or so years & I'm 55 now. There is a
lot there to conquer. Lawrence Rhodes...

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