The Oboe BBoard

The Oboe BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Re: Circular breathing - discussion

Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-05-22 15:42

As far as circular breathing being inherently unmusical...

I think if the circular breath actually serves a purpose musically, then by all means use it. The problem is that rarely, if ever, will a disguised inhale/exhale (which is what circular breathing is) really suit the music. It isn't a phenomenon that is possible in speech, which is what instrumental music really is: a speech or a story that has been elevated to song.
It could be argued that a there really needs to be circular breathing at this or that point. My argument is that there is either a fault in the composition or a fault in the interpretation. Composers aren't perfect. Sometimes they write music at the expense (and later dispense, from passing out) of those perfoming it! So as performers, it's our job to present a working model of what composers create to an audience. In french "peformance" is called interprétation - so sometimes what is written just DOES NOT translate to what can be relayed aurally to an audience, regardless of an oboist's capability of doing it.
For example - good ol Strauss - the phrases are written essentially back to back, but is a perfectly seamless unbroken chain of sound really what the composer intended? There's no way to know for sure, but one has to think practically, one has to listen. Imagine a good actor or story teller - there must be punctuation in their speech to create structure, and to make it intelligible to those listening to it. Music is no exception! In the first movement of the strauss there is FIVE places to breathe before the first rehearsal marking...FIVE! The phrase markings over the top of the notes doesn't necessarily mean "don't breathe between these markings"...it means the composer had a specific intention. The composer wanted those notes presented as one musical idea - but it doesn't mean one can't breathe within that.
Read a book! Phrases are seperated by periods...but does it mean that one can't strategically breathe when reading?

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Circular breathing - discussion new

vboboe

2007-05-20 16:09

No Subject new

A.U.K

2007-05-20 16:13