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> Who On Earth Designed The Bassoon?!
Malone
post Nov 20 2007, 10:32 PM
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Once again I sat in orchestra this evening thinking that someone ought to design a glass or some other transparent material for the bell and long joint so that it is actually possible to see the music without having to peer round about the quite incovenient drain pipe.

At least it could be redesigned?
Maybe the bell could go somewhere else? Like coil and go back down again, a bit like the contra bassoon.
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Phil Dixon
post Nov 20 2007, 10:36 PM
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Obviously, the answer is to take up the sousaphone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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mattrattley
post Nov 20 2007, 10:42 PM
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ah, your eyes get used to it soon enough, you go kinda cross eyed so you can see past the instrument (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) or memorise the parts... nah (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

i'm sure there's a good reason why the long and bell have to be straight but i don't know why i'm afraid (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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kenm
post Nov 20 2007, 11:40 PM
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QUOTE(Phil Dixon @ Nov 20 2007, 10:36 PM) *
Obviously, the answer is to take up the sousaphone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I would suggest the bass sarrusophone in Bb. Sarrus designed this range of instruments to replace the oboes and bassoons in the military band. Otherwise you learn to sit angled to the left with your eyes to the right. When I tried to play bassoon seeing the music was the least of my troubles. Playing the instrument up to pitch was a problem* all the time, and those ridiculous fingerings from middle C upward would catch me at intervals.

* all mine: it's a perfectly good instrument.
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Morgan's Munchkin
post Nov 21 2007, 12:48 AM
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In response to the original question: A man!
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AmandaL
post Nov 21 2007, 12:12 PM
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QUOTE(Morgan's Munchkin @ Nov 21 2007, 12:48 AM) *
In response to the original question: A man!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) How very true!!
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jacobvaneyck
post Nov 21 2007, 12:27 PM
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I had the same thought last night as I peered round the end of the bassoon in the depths of Franck's Symphony in D minor, while grappling with some drastic, not to mention high stuff in the part. I can only assume it would effect the sound too badly to have it shaped differently. I'm not an accoustical expert, but the sound may not carry well enough if curved back or something like that, or it would probably have been done long before now.

In saying that, the original contrabassoon was shaped like a modern bassoon only much, much longer. If you watch the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for example you will see how clumsy it looks. Maybe the standard bassoon will follow suit.
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AmandaL
post Nov 21 2007, 12:41 PM
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QUOTE(neil.clarinet @ Nov 21 2007, 12:27 PM) *
In saying that, the original contrabassoon was shaped like a modern bassoon only much, much longer. If you watch the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for example you will see how clumsy it looks. Maybe the standard bassoon will follow suit.
I wonder if anyone has already made the suggestion to Moosman, Monnig, Fox et al.?
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snhs
post Nov 21 2007, 01:11 PM
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QUOTE(Morgan's Munchkin @ Nov 21 2007, 12:48 AM) *

In response to the original question: A man!


If it had been left to a woman they would still be talking about it though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif).

I'm sure there's probably some changes that could be made to improve it but that would require quite a significant amount of time from any individuals/companies involved, maybe revising its design completely wouldn't be profitable enough to merit the effort?
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ChrisC
post Nov 21 2007, 02:07 PM
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QUOTE(snhs @ Nov 21 2007, 01:11 PM) *

QUOTE(Morgan's Munchkin @ Nov 21 2007, 12:48 AM) *

In response to the original question: A man!


If it had been left to a woman they would still be talking about it though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif).

I'm sure there's probably some changes that could be made to improve it but that would require quite a significant amount of time from any individuals/companies involved, maybe revising its design completely wouldn't be profitable enough to merit the effort?

There was an attempt to redesign the bassoon in the 1960s:
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0072-0127...%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarine...2/04/000485.txt

I wonder what it sounded like?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Chris
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snhs
post Nov 21 2007, 03:09 PM
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I'm not sure i like the idea of that much electronics in any instrument. It would be interesting if they had a recording somewhere though.
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Malone
post Nov 21 2007, 10:08 PM
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QUOTE(snhs @ Nov 21 2007, 03:09 PM) *

I'm not sure i like the idea of that much electronics in any instrument. It would be interesting if they had a recording somewhere though.


And pictures! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I like pictures. Where are the pictures?!

Indeed there are many excuses. But whose bright idea was it to make the end come up in front of your face.

I suppose this could be the same case with the great bass recorder? I dont play one, but I gather that the lead pipe comes down from the top so you still end up with the instrument in front of your face.

Here is my suggested design. You will all thank me one day!!

(IMG:http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s279/flutori/bassoon.jpg)
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