Our orchestra concert was on local news :) Article in Dutch but there is a translation button, and the English version was decent.

https://www.rtvutrecht.nl/nieuws/3973197/orkest-in-zeist-speelt-vergeten-muziek-van-nederlandse-meesters

#music #symphony #orchestra #bassoon

Yesterday was the last orchestra rehearsal before our concert next week. After the break, strings requested that we would tune to A442 instead of 441 which we had used all the way through the project. So we rehearsed the second half of the program in 442. Concert day there will only be a short sound check type rehearsal, were not going to have a chance to try the whole first half in 442.

I’m now in the practise room wondering if this is sensible or not. And whether or not to protest. I could probably manage, but it will mean extra last minute practise this week.

I also wonder about how much difference it really makes. Do I just imagine it when I feel tuning even so slightly higher makes it heavier to play some passages?

#music #orchestra #symphony #bassoon

I’ve had the new bassoon bocal on trial a week now. Just mailed the seller to send me a bill for it. :) I haven’t wanted to play on my old bocal at all, I automatically grab the new one every time.

So many things are easier- it’s more responsive both in terms of speaking more easily and immediately and in being more flexible in dynamics. And the tuning is still stable enough. And it tunes just a bit higher so I don’t have to push to get up to 441/442. Very happy bassoonist. :)

#music #bassoon

Visited Amsterdam Bassoon Center today with both of my bassoons and part of a dulcian. Baroque bassoon needed a couple sticking or leaking keys fixed. Modern bassoon came with because I wanted to try new bocals.

My original set up doesn’t really want to play higher than A=441, and in cold weather even that is a stretch. In the end I both came away with a used Heckel bocal to try out at home for a bit longer, and one of my Fox bocals cut shorter (I never play that one otherwise, so there was nothing to lose really). Dulcian part remained behind to be glued.

Felt like a very efficient visit! Plus had a nice chat with Max, the owner. 😊

http://amsterdambassooncenter.com/

#bassoon #music

This is a link to Gothenburg Symphony playing a suite by Hugo Alfvén. Really good orchestra! But why I'm posting is that about 15 min in there's a fun movement that is just the three bassoons together. They get an applause from the conductor in the middle of the suite. Well deserved.

https://www.gso.se/en/gsoplay/video/alfven-gustav-ii-adolf-svit/

#bassoon #symphony #music