Weissenborn Study #26
Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #26 for advanced bassoon students. Three ways to improve downward slurs.
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Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #26 for advanced bassoon students. Three ways to improve downward slurs. By Terry B. Ewell, Bassoon Digital Professor. BDP #134.
The original transcript is available here.
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Chapters
Transcript
0:18Introduction
Welcome, this is Terry Ewell. After the difficulties presented in some of the prior studies, it is nice to practice a study that is less challenging.
0:30Downward G3--G2 Slurs
The downward G3-G2 slurs in line 3 are particularly difficult, however. Three things can help produce this slur. Lift the first finger and place it down forcefully to aid with the slur.
0:54Parallel Teeth and Jaw Position
Position the teeth so that they are parallel not offset. Not here, but here. This may require you to move your lower jaw forward. Then play the lower G2 by moving the jaw downward and perhaps slightly forward.
1:15Wide Interval Leaps
By the way, keeping the teeth parallel helps wide interval leaps on the instrument over all registers.
1:22Vowel Change for Low G
Last of all quickly, and at the same time alter the vowel in your mouth, formed with your tongue to an "oh" or "ah" on the low G.
1:37Maggiore and Full C#4 Fingering
In the Maggiore, middle section, I seek a lyrical, warm, and singing tone. For this reason I choose to use the full C# fingering on all of the C#4 notes.
Open full-size figure
Maggiore and Full C#4 Fingering, continued
------------------------------------------------------------------------ # REFLECTION
1:56Reflection: Widespread Ignorance
"Widespread ignorance bordering on idiocy is our new national goal." Accessed 28 March 2014: http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/mar/20/age-of-ignorance/
2:02The Importance of the Fifty Advanced Studies
By now you must understand the important place the Fifty Advanced Studies have among etudes for the bassoon. They are the most widely used collection of bassoon studies in the world.
2:20Judging an Advanced Bassoonist's Education
How would you judge an advanced bassoonist who had never played these fifty studies or even worse was not even familiar with them? I know that I would wonder about the training of this student, his or her education, and perhaps performance abilities. A similar comparison, however, can be made to another famous work.
2:42Charles Simic and Education
Charles Simic, a college professor, is decrying the low level of history and political education among Americans in the quotation. With that statement I must agree, although I differ with some of his other conclusions.
3:07The Most Influential Book
Most interesting, however, is that I find the greatest ignorance among people is with the most influential book in all of human history. There is one book that tops the sales of all other books every year. There is one book that for many centuries has influenced history, art, and literature more than any other book. There is one book that millions turn to in times of celebration, moments of pain, and for spiritual development. Yet this book is rarely, if at all, read by the majority of Americans or those in other countries.
3:50Weissenborn Studies and the Bible
A bassoonist who is unfamiliar with the Weissenborn 50 Studies has missed out on an important educational resource. Likewise a person who has not read and studied the Bible---the most influential book ever written---has a huge hole in their education. I encourage you to add to your education. Carefully study the Bible.
Credits
- author Terry B. Ewell
- composer Julius Weissenborn