Weissenborn Study #31
Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #31 for advanced bassoon
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Weissenborn Opus 8/2, Study #31 for advanced bassoon students. Discussion of rapid breathing and sprints over large leaps. By Terry B. Ewell, Bassoon Digital Professor. BDP #139.
The original transcript is available here.
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Transcript
0:18Fast and Fluid Fingering
Welcome, this is Terry Ewell. Weissenborn study #31 emphasizes fast and fluid fingering. I am not going to repeat practice methods presented earlier in studies such as 11, 14, 16, and 27, but I remind you to make ample use of rhythms and especially sprints.
0:43Fast Fingerings for Eb3 and Db4
Throughout this study I use my fast fingerings for Eb3 and Db4.
0:52Sprints over Large Leaps
Line 5 has some particularly difficult measures to play. It is very important that your sprints don't stop at the measure line but go to the next note. Create segments that go to the next measure. The leaps are the most difficult part of the passage.
Open full-size figure
Open full-size figure
1:22Rapid Breathing
This is another study where rapid breathing is necessary. In some ways it reminds me of the last movement of the Tansman Sonatine.
1:30Tansman Sonatine Example
Example Tansman.
Open full-size figure
1:46Breathing by Dropping the Jaw
Both the Tansman Sonatine and this study require rapid breathing in the middle of quick notes. The quickest way to catch a breath is to breathe by dropping the jaw, not raising the head. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ # REFLECTION
2:06Reflection: Be Anxious for Nothing
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; (NKJV, Philippians 4:6)
2:19Anxiety and Musicians
We live in a time of great anxiety. This is particularly the case for musicians.
2:27Performance Worries
I worry about my performance ability, my reeds, or the demands of a difficult piece of music. I worry about living up to the expectations of others and particularly achieving my own demanding goals. Do you have these kinds of worries as well?
2:42Bringing Worries to God
This verse from the Bible has provided great comfort for me. From this verse I realize that I can approach God with my worries and anxieties. He will listen! I can express my worries to Him and He will provide relief.
Credits
- author Terry B. Ewell
- composer Julius Weissenborn