Circular Breathing: Part 1a Concepts
Concepts and Diagrams to Explain Circular Breathing
Comments
Circular Breathing: Part 1 Concepts. This videos explains concepts and presents diagrams illustrating the proceedures for circular breathing. Also, see: Ewell's article: "Musical Musings: Circular Breathing," The Double Reed 26/2 (2003): 68. Jane Ann Orzel's letter: "Musical Musings: Circular Breathing, Part II," The Double Reed 26/4 (2003): 44. Also, see: Método: Music of the Americas for Bassoon, 5-1
The original transcript is available here.
Videos
Chapters
Transcript with Time Codes
00:00Introduction
Music: Opening Bassoon Solo to Vivaldi's Concerto in E minor Several people have been interested in my ability to circular breathe through their viewing of my video on YouTube in which I circular breathe in a performance of “Flight of the Bumblebee.” At the time you are viewing this video you may not be able to see that (original)video. Restrictions by the television station that recorded the concert will only allow me to leave it on the website until June 2007. This video and the video following it will be dealing with two different aspects. This video is going to deal with the principles and mechanisms for circular breathing.
01:05Normal Airflow When Playing the Bassoon
This is a picture of the air flow that is normal for (playing) bassoon reeds. So you have coming out of the lungs the air comes up behind the tongue here into the oral chamber above the tongue and into the bassoon reed and on out. So that is the normal air flow we have for bassoonists. Notice that the soft palate, this little muscle area is closed off. Some players have a soft palate that doesn't close all the way or fatigues easily but in the normal air flow the air should go in this particular motion.
01:57Inflating the Cheeks
When we prepare to circular breathe or at least when I prepare to circular breathe I inflate my cheeks. Now Jane (Orzel) mentions in her article that she slides the back of the tongue forward and shortens the air chamber inside the mouth. I haven't been as effective in doing that so I inflate the cheeks therefore creating a bigger cavity for the air to flow out of my mouth. Once my cheeks are inflated the tongue is then raised in the back of my mouth to close off the passage. I have a reservoir of air right here in this part of the mouth that continues (the air) going forward. Now when I circular breathe at the very same time
02:46Opening the Soft Palate, Breathing Through the Nose
I raise the tongue to the top of the soft palate here I also drop the soft palate at the back of my mouth to allow for the flow of air coming in through my nose, through the sinus passages.
Resources
References
- Método: Music of the Americas for Bassoon, 5-1here
Credits
- author Terry B. Ewell