Stravinsky "Firebird Suite" Bassoon solo

[2matts1piano]

That's the sweatiest man I've ever seen. It's just dripping. I plar bassoooooooooooon. Yeah

[vlado1308]

very nice performance, but Stravinsky would turn in his grave to see this conductor (it is rather a fashion these days for conductors to play showmen without a reason). Stravinsky himself hated necessary & grotesque gestures of conductors. He said : IT IS ALL WRITTEN IN THE SCORE, there is no need for all this!... Stravinsky was a minimalist in his conducting. And it sounded as good!

[KoryEllisMulees]

I love the bassoon, thumbs up if you think it is the best instrument ever and the most fun to play!

[TengoUnOboe]

Oboeee!

[thevidguy11]

creepy ass conductor but sweet jammin

[CoonyyBflute]

Mejor música que esta no hay :)

[heteronimos20]

buena interpretacion del fagot



[samlilly123]

this is a conductor who knows what hes doing

[smokevalvula]

1:17 Magic!

[daniel123456789a]

exquisite music! 

[drewbsn87]

so this is what happened to Louis Anderson....

[stayoutofmyhouse]

2:24 and 3:01 it looks like the conductor just took a bath

[Halomaster1211]

ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS IS CALLED "FAGOTT"(for real)

[BLEACHLOVER1011]

@Halomaster1211 Fah got pronounce the o like ah its german so yeah :P

[phantompanda14]

how do conductors sweat that much? my conductor last year was sweating so much he looked like he came from a gatorade commercial o.o

[iTactiiCz]

@phantompanda14 If you mean during a performance, the amount of lights put out some intense heat. And they are also in a suit.

[stamstuff]

sounds cool! and by the way, i saw something really good. listen to both parts of this this guy, this music is flawless. search for "freakollo" in the search tab.

[ElAqero]

I'm a basoon player myself, but I have to say, that guy's face is hilarious.

[MrDenull]

oopppss sooo boring!!!!

[CJJRiley]

To be Absoloutly honest it looks as if they dragged the conductor in off the street........

[Kavoral]

I can't even sweat that much exercising. It's like he's spent an hour in a sauna or somethin.

[eggmaster40]

This is beautiful.

[Kaslsd]

2:26 Hang on guys. gotta comb over my sweaty disgusting hair while i look derp :)

[cj1lorenz]

ummm...wow...hes really into it isnt her? the conductor getting all sweaty....

[29Hazard]

@cj1lorenz

In spite of all complexity of notation there are still things that are not on the sheet. And what a good conductor must do is awaken those extra impulses in musicians that make their particular work awesome compared to another orchestra. So yeah, he's into it, definitely. He must be.

[victorrockalot]

this makes me so sad

[goopysoupmonkey]

hmm can anyone get me the bassoon sheet music to this song? thanks!

[CloneHat]

@goopysoupmonkey

Google Images will give you the solo for free.

[StanleyKSCBP]

@goopysoupmonkey It's in this grey orchestral test pieces book for Bassoon and Contrabassoon that's the best I can describe it :)

[doiberman]

3:10 contrabassoon sounds like a growling dog

[DavidTeeee]

I just LOVE Stravinsky! SO MUCH!

[MrAkihiros]

you should listen to his earlier early works like his symphony no.1 and 'fireworks,' his genius is already apparent.

[DavidTeeee]

@MrAkihiros Thank you! I have and they definitely contribute to my love of stravinsky. but you've inspired me to re-listen.

[MrAkihiros]

@DavidTeeee I share your rabid passion for Stravinsky. On a personal note Stravinsky as a person is very meticulous. His work table is obsessively neat.

[mauriwayar]

does sb know the name of this bassoonist?

[parmat88]

His name is Michael Werba

[Ndv2134]

What kind of oboe is that, it had clarinet like keys, with open holes.

[wouldbebaritone]

Just a variation on the key system.

[mauriwayar]

@Ndv2134

that's vienna oboe, very rare! it hasn`t changed since the 19th century and is being played now only in Austria

[puppylv408]

OOOHHH! we're playing this in school XD

[TheFlyGuy009]

such a beautiful song

[StanleyKSCBP]

I saw this live yesterday! :D It's simply beautiful and I think Stravinksy really knew what he was doing when he wrote for the Bassoon. And the Contra takes a solo just after the Bassoon which I didn't know before

[bassoon334]

A contrabassoon solo? WOW He did know what he was doing

[ZacPB189]

@bassoon334 I don't think this is the version of Firebird that has contrabassoon...

[mauriwayar]

@ZacPB189

hear at 3:07

[YourExposer]

Who's the conductor? And what orchestra?

[Spaceman15]

Read the video information, --'

[Baobabonzai]

blind, deaf and dumb

[mauriwayar]

@YourExposer

Vienna philarmony, conductor Valeriy Gergiev. Just look at the information ;-)

[TheGuitarist365]

That conductor conducts a little freaky. He seems like a cool conductor to have though. Amazing control on those high notes by that bassoonist. I don't have that much control up there.

[jwell1234]

on the contrary, i would LOVE to have him as a conductor. he's pouring all of his energy and emotion into the music, he feels this music better than most other conductors i have seen

[Orpehus458]

I've only recently become acquainted with Gergiev's work. I have to say that I would not enjoy having him as a conductor since I would find his style too distracting. (Or maybe he's just trying to hold the orchestra's attention?) However you must admit he produces some very nice results.

[mauriwayar]

@Orpehus458

I played just last week with him! :-)

and it was very interesting! a little bit difficult to follow the beat for me, however, perhaps because I was that concentrated in playing my voice... but very musical, expressive and with a lot of commitment (can you say so?).

[gnrfreak808]

What movement of the piece is this???? Or is this an arrangement?

[Kaiamara]

It's the Lullaby of the Firebird Suite, you should check out the whole thing though. Beautiful and majestic.

[jwd0808]

Sorry, but I would break out in laughter if any of my conductors were like that... whats with all the finger twitching?

[DoninWhiting]

Really, is it alcohol? Toscanini never looked like he does here. Michael Tilson Thomas would let the soloist do his thing, not go into a sweat like

Gergiev, here. Seriously, does anyone know what gives here?

[bassoon334]

Where can i find the music for that? Its beautiful

[bassoon334]

I found it in Solos for the Bassoon Player

[MintyFreshMouthWash]

just the solo at the start is in passi difficili e a soli

[SupernaturalBassoon]

Er... is smooth and creamy a good thing? 'Cuz now I'm hungry... xD

[DoninWhiting]

what happened with gergiev here? Was he losing it, emotional problems, why is he so disshelved? Never saw him like this before.

A/C off to save us from Global Warming down under?

[bckm54]

Hehe, I was going to say he looked like Joe Cocker out there... ;)

[wfshipley]

Sweat is dripping from the director's face... that's disgusting.

[jheronimusbosch]

that's a bassoon, hasn't anyone ever seen an oboe before??

oboes are shaped like a cone and are blown through one end, looking to the front. Basoons are played through that small tube on the side

[oranges1fan]

i think that they are talking about the oboe that is shown around 1:04, becuase it's different than what most people know an oboe to look like.

[jheronimusbosch]

Oh i see...i think that's an oboe d'amore, though i'm not sure because one can't see the whole instrument there

[unicornxd]

It's not an oboe d'amore,it's too high pitched.

It's a viennese oboe.

It's pretty unusual for oboists to use them.

But it doesn't really matter,It barely makes

a diffence at all.

[philip]

> It's a viennese oboe.

I believe it is. Is this the Vienna Philharmonic?

[insignificantvampire]

actually oboes can have a boko (the small tube thing) too usually uncommon though. I think its more expensive to get one with that as well. and also I do think that they are talking about 1:04

[etiterum]

the Viennese are still trained not to make apish movements while playing solos - serving Music better.

[costythehot]

1.There are no sudden movements (sudden is the word you are looking for) because this is a lullaby (Berceuse). 2.Are you implying that Berlin Phil, or Lucerne Festival orchestra DON'T serve music because they DO move? That is a bit narrow minded, don't you think? Dissing other orchestras music making due to a fair amount of movement that makes the LIVE performance the more exciting and energetic? Isn't that the point of going to a LIVE performance, instead of sitting at home and listen to a CD?

[etiterum]

these body movements and facial expressions mostly have no relation to the music, they are unmotivated and the energy is diverted and wasted. And you are right I'm speaking of the BPh. I am apotential buer of music DVDs but not as long as they move around like they do today.

[costythehot]

You aren't a professional musician/performer, are you? I don't mean to be offensive, but what you are saying is completely absurd. So, singers should not move as well/any performer? When we talk, no gesticulation/ facial expression/ any kind of movement is allowed? I guess Pavarotti and Domingo got it all wrong!

[etiterum]

of course, in an opera performance some movements and gestures are inevitable. And, you are right again, I don't want to see the face of a singer, he should wear a mask, or at least heavy make-up. The musicians in an orchestra have no training as actors, so they should refrain from any expression other than music, it would only be bad theatre. the way they normally hold their instruments is enough of a gesture.

[bckm54]

I think you spend too much time criticizing the music, and too little time enjoying the music! :)

I used to be a professional musician, and the gestures are NOT unrelated. It is how the musician relates to his/her instrument...it is PART of playing the instrument. Musicians, thankfully, are about as far removed from robots as I can imagine. Whether it's opera, rap, performance art, concertos, country, or whatever, gestures and motions are part of it. My two cents, anyway... :)

[etiterum]

so, I must be glad that there is a vast collection of old video recordings where the musicians don't make these foolish movements ?

[bckm54]

Eti, you can have whatever opinion you wish to have about it, and that's fine. All I'm saying is that, from personal experience and from being with other musicians over many years, it's "part of the game". I have never met any musician who could (or wanted to) eliminate those movements.

[dbrockbassoon]

I don't know what your problem is, but I'm going to continue to move while I play. It helps me play better, and just so you know, I am well trained as a musician, and in theater, thanks.

[mauriwayar]

@etiterum

I studied with a pretty renowned teacher who gave me training in a sort of performance coreography that has exactly to do with the musical phrasing. It was one of the most important things I learned about music in my live! It helps you to get out of yourself and enjoy what you're doing! :-)

I could recommend you to read "Der musikalische Körper" of bassoonist W. Rüdiger...it's about almost the same.

Now I`m playing in BPhil! :-)

This is German style, school and tradition :-)

[Tech502]

It's an oboe d'amore

[shellygenevieve]

let this person say their opinion about basoons. they play it so they know what it's like. i play viola so i don't know what basoons are like. i want to play it, but each person has their own opinion.

[KStrick92]

I think maybe because the oboe is wooden, Idk though D:

lol, the cello player at 1:08 looks like chevy chase to me :P

[liamstedavid]

all (good) oboes are wooden

[037kondo]

thats a weirdly shaped oboe

[1018musackmon]

that is a weird oboe.

[037kondo]

apparently they are called the Viennese oboe. They have a reedy sound and blends in well in orchestra.

[LLJtbone]

This has to be one of the most famous basson solo's ever. I love it when it's played well.

[Owlduke]

you...hate the bassoon? It makes me incredibly sad that people even HAVE those thougths.....

[kyuubifan5]

i hate the bassoon its so heavy and low and im stuck with it for 2 years

[happycatkiller]

man, how can u hate such a gorgeous instrument

damn, it makes me sad too that people could hate such a grand instrument

[kyuubifan5]

i only hate its weight

[Prince1of1Clownamia]

What kind of instrument is a Bassoon? Is it some kind of woodwind? Just a question don't flame me

[hiimdavid92]

yeah, its a double reed. like oboes, but the bore is different, and its longer. Its probably the lowest of the woodwinds, not counting things with Contra in their names. Was that a good explanation? lol

[kyuubifan5]

its woodwind

[jstnukeit]

all I know is that the other name for bassoon is fag... but i agree. next to french horn, favorite sound.

[frannyshow123]

if u play a bassoon then u should say u play a bassoon(my opinion)otherwise i think that means u dont care for letting more ppl knowing about it. It's just a nice instrument just explain to them what it is...

[zilvinas1980]

This solo sounds also incredibly well on French bassoon. Unfortunately we can't hear this instrument that often anymore.

[vincedog3]

I love this piece. Stravinsky at his best and this does the woodwinds justice. I love Bassoons and Contra instruments. Tremendous sound.

[HeleddtheSea]

bassoonists need more recognition

but gorgeous solo.

[alexvollrathsmith]

This conductor has magic fingers (prominant around 1:38) and a magic combover. I enjoy both.

As a composer, I can also grant some assurance that bassoonism is on the rise. Fear not, people will get tired of violin solos eventually.

Eventually.

[bassoon334]

The bassoon revolution!!!!!! ; )

[bassoon334]

this is a beautiful solo

[waqigirl]

we don't get much solos do we?

[dimsimlord]

No, and it's a crying shame. Still, modern music is beginning to utilise us to our full potential :)

I'm an orchestral bassoonist and I assure you, our kind is on the rise.

[nolfavrellcalamakta]

unfortunately its not a very well known instrument, i just tell people i play clarinet because i don't feel like explaining what a bassoon is. And if I do mention bassoon people always tend to think of the oboe, a very different instrument.

[pastamancer07]

it could be worse. i am a bassoonist and was given oboe music in my band once.

[dimsimlord]

If someone doesn't know what it is. they're a cockhead. Bassoon is the bass of the woodwinds and is extremely important in any ensemble. We may not get all the solos, but trust me, music sounds SO much better when the bassoon is playing it's part.

[shellygenevieve]

bassoon is like a viola orchestral-part-wise: it's the most important. the bassoon puts the winds together, the viola puts the strings together.

[MusicalMatt08]

i couldnt agree more.

[costythehot]

Actually it is the french horn that puts the winds together. That is why you have a french horn in a woodwind quintet. But 2nd bassoon is the one to listen to in the woodwind section for tuning!

[ivoryman996]

Oooh So pwetty :)

[vudumajik]

This song makes me love playing bassoon.

[shakerite11]

Hey if your looking for that bassoon solo i have it in a book called Solos for the Bassoon Player and its selected and edited by Sol Schoenbach. It comes with piano accompaniment if that makes a difference.

[akatsukikillergirl]

I love this! I need to find this solo to play now. Lol

Beautiful, calm

[shakerite11]

look for Solos for the Bassoon Player selected and edited by Sol Shoenbach

[1018musackmon]

I have that in a book of 12 solos all arranged by shoenbach! It is amazing!!!!

[sweetnspice1221]

i wish i could sound that calm when i play high notes on my bassoon...but i love this piece because it is so whimical, something that you would hear if you were thinking about a fairytale.

[bagelfanatic]

This is whimsical to you?

[overlord1294]

This looks like the Vienna philharmonic with Valery Gergiev conducting

[Mindfor2012]

Which symphony is this?

[Sweatybus]

It is the Firebird, a Ballet by Stravinsky.

There is also a suite of it which is very famous.

[gazzamuso]

Wonderful solo! Really creepy conductor though hehe. Does anyone know what type of Oboe the oboeist was playing? It played C the same way as saxophone.

[costythehot]

This is a Wien oboe!... from the wbsite ¨The Viennese oboe, played only in Vienna, differs from the internationally played French oboe in that it has a special bore shape, a special reed and special fingering.¨

[Tsukuyomi102594]

it looked more like a clarinet in the way the keys were arranged compared to a french oboe

[Dankoji]

a saxophone is played in Eb or Bb depending on which one ur playing

[gazzajol]

I play the sax genius. The oboe used the same fingering for a C as the saxophone, I'm perfectly aware that not all instruments are in C....

[Dankoji]

apparently not that well. C fingering for an Oboe is First finger and first finger equavelent to a Bb on a sax. and a C fingering for a Sax is second finger

[gazzajol]

Exactly my point fool. The oboe player used the same fingering a sax player would for C because he has a different type of oboe. Think about what you're going to say before you say it 'cause you just screwed yourself over.

[triquera]

ok, you finished fighting,

now, can we listen to this beautiful piece?

[gazzamuso]

lol yes, yes you may

[IndigoJetTrails]

Absolutely beautiful. Stravinsky damn well knew how to compose for the bassoon. Hell, not just the bassoon, but for the entire orchestra! Great opening into the next part with the contra. Can anyone tell me who the conductor is and what orchestra this is?

[sectusempra777]

This is the London Symphony Orchestra. THE most famous orchestra in the WORLD.

[costythehot]

I have no idea where you got your info from sectusempra777 ...but this is Wien Philharmonich, then conductor is Valery Gergiev, bassoonist Michael Werba. And as to the MOST famous orchestra comment....hmmm ....I am not really sure what criteria you use to say that! G´day!

[costythehot]

Wien Phil (not Symphony), Conductor Valery Gergiev.

[ldsguy21]

Bravo!!!

[seecritagent]

he looks like he is going through withdrawls. "just one more hit man, please, just one"

[95thRiflesOCI]

Omg the conductor is sweating!!!!

[golafs]

yes, this clip should be banned!

absolute disgrace to stravinsky ;)

[GODloves47]

Quite on the contrary, Stravinsky would be proud to see someone working so physically hard for his art.

[54spiritedwill54]

I think this is the full ballet rather than the Suite.

[justjusti]

I love this solo. Yay for bassoons! :)

[geekyshizzle]

I totally agree w/ u MercifulMe,but he was more like a sack of boiled crap! LOL!!!!

[greenthebassoonist]

I played this solo in one of my orchestras on boxing day; this version is pretty good

[satoshi2oll]

i started crying.

[raypizzi]

GROW UP YOU ASSHOLES....You should be so talented, but your pedestrian attitudes and comments will forever prevent that from happening.

[MercifulMe]

Sorry, talented fabulous composers of greatness.

That sounded almost unlike sarcasm.

[heymammal]

Igor always sends shivers up and down my spine!

[CIROFERRIGNO]

Però Igor quanto s'è avvicinato al calore del fagotto in quadri di una esposione nell'orchestrazione di Ravel (vecchio castello)

[me254065]

I dont know which Suite Version this is but it must be longer than the 20 minute one as from 3.30ish isnt in the one I have so he'll have been conducted for a long time and just come out of the Danse Infernale-hence the sweat lol and he doesnt need to keep time.

[daalsta]

Gergiev!!!

[DarknessFell6]

I have two points.

1) GAH! NECK STRAP!

2) The conductor looks like a pedophile.

[loofascraper]

What's wrong with neck straps?

[DarknessFell6]

What isn't wrong with neck straps?

[badkatsu]

exactly. The bassoonist looks like a deuche and you are absolutely right about the conductor. lol

[MeinenMusik]

why the fuck does it matter what they look like?? they sound fantastic!! if you're listening to a CD of an orchestra playing something, do you make comments about how the artists look?

PS. Darkness, saxophoners can have neck straps, why can't bassoonists?

[PlatinumPisces]

because it's at the end of a long piece.... fuck people consider things. i mean yea the conductor looks scary, but they sound good!

[Icewalker]

a) no seat straps work fine

b) i'ma bassoonist so stfu

c) GERGIEV IS GOD (but yea he does look like a pederass)

[MercifulMe]

Hes not god. God wouldn't conduct like a useless sack of crap, all fluttery and crap. How are you supposed to get time out of those hand spasms.

[Tsukuyomi102594]

Eto krasivo!Spasibo!

[Metamorrphor]

i love the bassoon sound but the thing is

the dude looks like the grinch for some reason.

He just has that who ha ville look u know

oh well mayb its just me.

anyway, i still love the bassoon!

[Jeandebolanos]

Это красиво! Спасибо!

[sebussy]

I love this piece of music and i'm of the opinion that this is the most beautiful bassoon solo in the symphonic repetoire that i know. I hate Gergiev with a passion though. He's so arrogant he does things with the music which composers don't ask for. this isn't overly-bad but I saw him do tchiak 6 and it was horribly interpretated.

[MercifulMe]

Oh I just performed this last week :) I love this!

[roccad79]

There are 3 other versions of the Firebird that everyone is more familiar with, copyrighted in 1911, 1919, and 1945. Most people are familiar with the 1919 version because it was condensed down for a normal "full-sized" orchestra. Though the 1919 version is mainly heard by audiences, it is not uncommon for a professional orchestra to perform the original 1909-1910 version in its entirety with a double-orchestra, which you hear in the video.

so ehh. yeah, thats where that came from.

[roccad79]

idk your knowledge with music history, but apparently you need to touch up on Stravinsky. Stravinsky liked to change his music several times and re-copyright it so people would want to buy the new version of the music. The music in the video is the original version of the Firebird back from 1909 to 1910. It was originally performed as music for a ballet in Paris, using an extra large orchestra.

[aliandthebaba]

great soloist.

i dont like the conductor's interpretation.. at all. zipnadazilch.

it should seem like something.. ethereal. all the dynamic swells take away from that.

OH. and i just noticed the ending?

ehh. where did tat come from.

[MercifulMe]

totally agree. I don't know who would be able to read him, but I would be so confused. Hes not even conducting, hes just... dancing maybe?

[maskerade123]

I think this is the full ballet rather than the Suite.

[ecwaufisxtreme]

Yes, this is the full ballet with the larger, more opulent orchestration.

[jazzobassoon]

I have also played it, this is a good solo for bassoon , very nice.