Tenth Bassoon Lesson, Part 2
Playing C#3/Db3. Review of prior concepts. Time
Comments
Playing C#3/Db3. Review of prior concepts. Time signatures. Studies by A Tune a Day and Weissenborn. By Terry B. Ewell. BDP#202. www.2reed.net/bdp.
The original transcript is available here.
Videos
Captions are unavailable. The complete transcript follows.
Chapters
Transcript
0:00Intro Music: Home Sweet Home
Intro Music: "Home Sweet Home" from A Tune a Day, lesson 29 number 6.
0:13C#3 Technique and A Tune a Day
Well let's conclude this lesson by playing some examples that emphasize the proper techniques for C#3.
0:25Section
This first example is from A Tune a Day lesson 19 number 3.
0:31Section
Again I count pulses not numbers.
0:35Section
So I don't think of the numbers given here.
0:38Section
This is in 4/4 time with a quarter note getting a beat.
0:56A Tune a Day Lesson 19, Number 3
Example: A Tune a Day lesson 19, #3.
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1:17Weissenborn Page 14 and 6/4 Time
The next study is from the Weissenborn Bassoon-School page 14.
1:20Section
Notice that the time signature is 6/4.
1:24Section
That means that there are six quarter notes in each measure.
1:28Section
In this case each quarter note will receive a beat.
1:33Section
Now a Db is written here instead of a C# but it is still played the same way on the bassoon; it is fingered the same way on the bassoon.
1:45Weissenborn Moderato in 6/4
Example: Weissenborn page 14, Moderato in 6/4.
Open full-size figure
2:28Review of C#3 Thumb Motion and Articulation
Well, the last example I want to play for you illustrates several things.
2:33Section
Let's discuss the first eight measures from the Weissenborn Bassoon-School page 14.
2:41Section
First, it illustrates again the correct thumb motion for performing the new C# fingering.
2:50Section
Notice that I keep the whisper key depressed.
2:53Section
Second the articulations featured in the study provide a chance for us to practice what we have learned before.
3:02Playing on the Wind and Phrasing
Most of the notes in the first eight measures I stop with the tongue.
3:07Section
I play all these tongued notes on the wind, focusing my phrasing toward the downbeat of the fourth measure of each phrase.
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3:19Air and Embouchure Stops
The two notes I stop with the air and embouchure are the last notes of each phrase: the D3 in measure 4 and the A2 in measure 8.
3:33Section
I have time there to make a nice rounded taper to each of those notes, finishing each phrase.
3:43Alla Breve and Cut Time
Last of all, Alla breve indicates two beats in the measure with the half notes receiving the beat.
3:51Section
Notice that the time signature has a line through the "C" indicating "cut time."
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3:56Section
I know that this can be a little bit confusing when you first see this.
4:01Section
So you count in two, again thinking of pulses, two pulses for each measure.
4:08Section
It is not unusual for half notes to receive beats in music.
4:13Section
This is quite common, for instance, in marches.
4:18Weissenborn Alla Breve
Example: Weissenborn Bassoon-School page 14, Alla breve.
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4:35Conclusion of the Ten Lessons
Well, our ten lessons now draw to a close.
4:40Section
I hope that you have learned from them and will continue to improve on the bassoon.
4:48Section
God bless you!
4:51Closing Music
Closing Music: "Home Sweet Home" from A Tune a Day, lesson 29 number 6. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright (c) 2016 By Terry B. Ewell. All rights reserved.
Resources
References
- Reference: Terry B. Ewell, “Teaching the Beginning Bassoonist,” The Double Reed 23/2 (2000): 35–43.here
Credits
- author Terry B. Ewell