Composing for Bassoon Composing for Specific Instruments >
Guidance on composing for bassoon. BCMG bassonist Nikolaj Henriques talks about composing for bassoon: the range, traditional and extended techniques and composing idiomatically for the instrument.
BCMG bassoonist Nikolaj Henriques talks about composing for bassoon
Extended techniques on the bassoon and how to notate them
The suggested extended technique notations below are only suggestions. Please feel free to invent your own or just write in the part what you would like the musician to do. All the note heads we have used can be found in notation software.
Range of the Bassoon
Playing the reed
The musician uses just the reed. The range of pitches that can be played depends on the player and will be approximate.
Microtones
The musician plays intervals smaller than a semitone such as quarter tones (4 divisions of a tone) and even smaller by using different fingerings or embouchure (mouth).
Vibrato
This is movement within a pitch that enlivens it and is used to create expression. It can be very wide and obvious or very small and gentle.
Flutter tongue
The musician uses the throat or tongue to create a fast vibrating sound like a buzzer or 'flutter'.
Blowing down the instrument
The musician blows down the bassoon without the reed to make an airy/wind sound.
Wind tones & low popping sounds
The musician plays the instrument without the reed creating a breathy, windy sound or popping sounds.
Give verbal or written instructions
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Videos
