Alex Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I'm currently composing an Ensemble for 12 woodwinds. The work is scored for 3 flutes, fouroboes, 2 clarinets, and 3 bassoons. I have some questions about bassoons if anybody wants to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnGalt Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Ask away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 Can Bassoons play three note chords? Another question is, what is a standard bassoons' highest note? I looked up the highest note on the internet and got a whole bucha diferrent things though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I may as well answer in Mr.Galt's absence. It's only possible to play one note at a time on any single woodwind instrument, so no, you can't have a three-note chord unless it's split so one note is played by each of your bassoons (which is what I think you meant). As for the highest note, in my experience it's anywhere from B3 to about F5. Experienced players can obviously go higher but I wouldn't write there unless you knew for certain your ensemble could handle it. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnGalt Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I may as well answer in Mr.Galt's absence. It's only possible to play one note at a time on any single woodwind instrument, so no, you can't have a three-note chord unless it's split so one note is played by each of your bassoons (which is what I think you meant).As for the highest note, in my experience it's anywhere from B3 to about F5. Experienced players can obviously go higher but I wouldn't write there unless you knew for certain your ensemble could handle it. Good luck Not entirely true for bassoons. It is capable of some multiphonics. Here is a list of multiphonic chords, although most bassoonists never use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Well I was trying to avoid getting into that kind of thing...I'm assuming he's just writing for standard playing. But yes, you're definately right :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnGalt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I'm assuming he's just writing for standard playing. Yeah, anyone who writes multiphonics is asking for trouble, lol. Oh god, they sound so terrible, but the way they work is incredibly interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 it's all based on complex harmonic interactions, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnGalt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 it's all based on complex harmonic interactions, isn't it? Sort of. It's the mechanics of the tone-holes. In certain combinations, several tones sound at once, all relatively close to each other. It's like being able to play a Bb, B, C, and C# all at the same time. You can, if you know which fingering can mechanicly produce that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 cool...that sounds like something fun to experiment with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunael Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 For those interested I got all references for that written at : http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4486 By experience... I find multiphonics rarely interesting... depending of what you are searching for of course. But some can really be cool... but I counsel rarity and efficiency ! :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnGalt Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 By experience... I find multiphonics rarely interesting... depending of what you are searching for of course. But some can really be cool... but I counsel rarity and efficiency ! :happytears: Yeah, the multiphonics themselves aren't too cool. What is cool is the mechanics behind them. When you start to think about why the multiphonics work, it's pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunael Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Yeah!... for those who wants to study in Montreal, Caroline Traube is giving a wonderful class about all that (acoustic and timber). She's a very beautiful (for those interested (which I don't much care)) AND very competent researcher and teacher (for which I praise her much). I should be teaching there next year in Open Music class too (Composition Aided by Computers). Though, I guess either some don't have the age required to go to university or the opportunity to know french to attend the classes ! eheh So for multiphonic... that's nice because I just right now writing a 'short' piece for an ensemble named 'Chorum' and the oboe has long sentences in 'double harmonics' which sounds very well though. So... if you choose well, some multiphonics sounds pretty nice. For the bassoon I really like those playing a very agressive fifth (if I remember well cause I don't have time to check the info now) in the lower register !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 22, 2006 Author Share Posted September 22, 2006 Alrighty. I always thought that bassoons could play like thirds and stuff but i wasnt sure. I just assumed because it's a basso continuo instrument. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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