for Bassoon Quartet
Instrumentation:
- Bassoon 1
- Bassoon 2
- Bassoon 3
- Bassoon 4 (dbl. Contrabassoon)
Program Notes:
I. Prelude – An articulate and precise prelude that has short moments of more linear playing. It is finished with a solid crunchy punctuation.
II. Waltz – A simple, somewhat emotional waltz with a high register melody in the first player and rich low playing from the bottom two players. A cloudy end gives only a tiny sense of resolution.
III. March – Marked by a melodic ‘scalular’ idea, this March is stately and solid. The heavy ‘trio’ demands a little more from the lower end and characteristic playing from the top.
IV. Dirge – The dirge is slow and moves harmonically from major, to minor often. It’s ending is cloudy and dark.
V. Round – While not a typical ’round,’ this movement is a solid excursion from the previous movement. It is highly articulate and its use of Contrabassoon further highlights the differences between the bottom and the top, and the distance in between.
VI. Interlude: On A Cajun Folk Song – This movement is a short arrangement/meditation on the cajun folk song, Tout Un Beau Soir en Me Promenant. The players go about the melody in a singing manner that is different than the source recording by Alan Lomax of Elita Hoffpauir singing it in 1934.
VII. Apparition – Utilizing multiphonics as its source of inspiration, this ‘ghostly’ movement employs two multiphonics from two different players and has the other two players draw off of that material in a similar way. This paired with key clicks gives the movement a haunting quality.
VIII. Petite Dance – A small and comical dance that sits higher in the range of the bassoon for all parts. It contrasts this overall high tessitura with occasional low stomps from the whole quartet.
IX. Postlude (Recap) – This finale draws on material from all the previous movements, whilst also employing a solid 16th note running idea that acts as a constant throughout. The ending screeching in a loud, and intense way.
Dedication/Purpose:
For Bassoon Quartet is dedicated to the JMU Bassoon Studio Dr. Sue Barber, director
Performance Materials Available Directly from the Composer.