The Bassoon

This welcome volume encompasses the entire history of the bassoon, from its origins five centuries ago to its place in twenty-first-century music. James Kopp draws on new archival research and many years' experience playing the instrument to provide an up-to-date and lively portrait of today's bassoon and its intriguing predecessors. He discusses the bassoon's makers, its players, its repertory, its myths, and its audiences, all in unprecedented detail. The bassoon was invented in Italy in response to the need for a bass-register double-reed woodwind suitable for processionals and marching. Composers were quick to exploit its agility and unique timbre. Later, during the reign of Louis XIV, the instrument underwent a major redesign, giving voice to its tenor register. In the early 1800s new scientific precepts propelled a wave of invention and design modifications. In the twentieth century, the multiplicity of competing bassoon designs narrowed to a German (or Heckel) type and a French type, the latter now nearly extinct. The author examines the acoustical consequences of these various redesigns. He also offers new coverage of the bassoon's social history, including its roles in the military and church and its global use during the European Colonial period. Separate historical chapters devoted to contrabassoons and smaller bassoons complete the volume [Publisher description].

For nine seasons Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute in the The Office (U.S.). Viewers fell in love with the character and grew to love the actor who played him even more. In The Bassoon King, he tells his own story and explains how he came up with his incredibly unique sense of humor and perspective on life. The book chronicles his journey from super-nerddom to drama, his years of mild debauchery and struggles as a young actor in New York, his many adventures, and insights about The Office which fans of both Wilson and the show will love.

Drawings and photographs complement step-by-step explanations of reedmaking techniques, making every procedure clear. Rather than present an onerous shopping list, the chapter on tools gives a thorough tour of Skinner's workbench, explaining the uses of various items and what can be used as substitutes. Throughout, instructions are given in clear language, not just outlining steps to follow but explaining he principles behind the practice. In addition to basic reed types, a number of variations are treated in detail, as is the making of contrabassoon reeds. Finally, every effort has been made to make this book practical for use at the workbench--in a secure binding that will allow the pages to stay open (without the use of clothespins) and in print large enough to permit easy consultation when the reader's hands are occupied with cane and knives and glue and wire.

(Instructional). New edition with spiral binding For well over a century, students all over the world have learned to play the bassoon using Julius Weissenborn's Practical Bassoon Method . At long last, The New Weissenborn Method for Bassoon presents the complete 1887 publication in an updated, user-friendly version. With over 50 photographs, modern fingering charts, and in-depth instruction on performance basics, instrument care, and reeds, The New Weissenborn Method is a must-have for all bassoon students. Features: * Carefully researched and edited from the original 1887 edition * All lessons and exercises re-engraved * New notes, techniques and terminology introduced before each lesson * Weissenborn's original sections on tenor clef and the "speaker" keys restored and expanded * Original ornamentation chapter restored with added modern performance practices * Supplementary scale exercises now include all major and minor keys

This book provides students and music teachers with a comprehensive overview of the bassoon from its origin to its use and important facts not covered in traditional method books. It can be used concurrently with any method book, expanding the learning experience beyond “learning how to play” to include all topics relevant to the bassoon. These topics include: The parts of the instrument How it works The different kinds of bassoons How it’s made How to care for it Planning a practice session A survey of the history of woodwind instruments The accessories needed to play the instrument An appendix includes a discussion of the science of sound, a glossary of woodwind instrument terms, a dictionary of the subject instrument terms, an illustrated index of the subject instrument parts, and an instrument ownership record. This provides greater insight into that instrument’s relationship to others in its family and to those companion instruments with which the player will be working. The enrichment results in a well-rounded musician instead of one who can just play an instrument.