Daniel Dorff - Concerto for Contrabassoon - movement 1

Master class performance of Daniel Dorff's Concerto for Contrabassoon, 11/17 at Indiana University, Bloomington.


www.danieldorff.com for more information on the composer

Category:

Music

Tags:

• contrabassoon
• Daniel
• Dorff

[bckm54]

You can tell I'm not a contra player by my question: is that slant the normal way to hold the contra, or are you doing it to expose the bell a little more so it's not pointing straight down? Either way, your playing is GREAT and I wish you much success should you pursue a career as a contra player! :)

[SarahWildey]

It does look like an odd angle from there, but all the weight is either being pushed into the arch of my right foot with the end pin, or resting against my left thigh. My hands are only giving it some forward/backward stability.

So, while it does look odd, it's actually the most comfortable way for me to play without stressing my hands or wrists.

[Jokk49]

Nice versatility of styles through the movements. I do not know Daniel Dorff, who is it exactly ?

[SarahWildey]

I just fell in love with this piece the first time I played through it; it's really not like any other contra piece I've heard or played. It's very lighthearted and playful, and it's something an audience of non-musicians and/or musicians can all equally appreciate and enjoy. I just enjoy how fun it sounds, while at the same time showing that the contrabassoon can do more than hold low notes.

[TheAmericanidiot9]

I love a girl who can rattle a small planet with one musical instrument : )

[FirstBus27]

Hi Sarah,

Can I ask you something, Can I play or learn Contrabassoon? but i been played a bassoon in 2000 to 2005 i retired but i still love the sound of contrabassoon...i know it is expensive the one contrabassoon is amati cost £6,000 over, right I know you in USA and I'm from UK. any advisor to me apperciate it, Thank you

[TheBass00nist]

@SarahWildey I hold the contra the same way when I play. I agree that it's the most comfortable and it also kinda forces you into a good sitting position.

Well played, by the way! I'm also working on this piece right now. It's very virtuoso at places and is definately a challenge, but it's fun!

[MrKoreyC]

Low notes are awesome.

[devinb1690]

Very nice, a little buzzy on the low notes, but then again only a perfect reed can fix that!

[batakasbatucada]

Gracias!!!! por este video

[xXdarkclearXx]

@dimsimlord Thank you very much!!! :)

[dimsimlord]

@xXdarkclearXx

To go on (character limit sucks) it's perfectly normal not to have a private instructor for bassoon as there are so few of them around, but if you're taking the instrument seriously you may want to look into getting one. In a concert band, you will never have to go above a high A and you will rarely even get up to that, so as long as you know that you're fine for the time being. If you have any more questions, ask on my profile and I'll help if I can

[dimsimlord]

@xXdarkclearXx

Well in a concert band bassoon doesn't go out of bass clef, or at least in the years I've been playing in and occasionally conducting bands it doesn't. Probably because it never has to go very high. In other ensembles and solo stuff, though, it will go into tenor clef and sometimes even treble. I didn't have a private instructor until about 18 months into playing bassoon, I came to regret this as I'm doing bassoon at uni now and there's a lotta stuff I learnt wrong.

[xXdarkclearXx]

@dimsimlord Mm, I see! Though, I didn't know bassoon went out of bass clef? Though all I know about the basson I discovered myself, since I don't have a private instructor :/ My highschool band teacher doesn't know much about it himself, and there aren't any bassoon teachers around here...