Category Archives: Music / Bassoon
this is number 11
The Google Orchestra – making music with my coworkers!
One of the unexpected pleasures of working at Google was the ability to make music with my coworkers. I’ve assisted the group since they were incarnated back in May 2016 and watched it grow from a small chamber orchestra with about 30 musicians, to a full fledged ensemble with over 65 performers. Here we are […]
Read MoreNew Instrument in my Collection: a 110 year old Mandolin Zither
I have just finished restoring a “Mandolin Zither”! It dates from 1900 but despite its age and the interesting history behind the instrument, its not worth very much. Even so, the curious reader or woodworker might enjoy the story below: This type of instrument was actually invented by Friederich Menzenhauer a German who patented it […]
Letter from Heckel – 1994
I recently discovered a letter I received from Heckel about a contrabassoon I was playing at the time. I was impressed that they took the time to write me back since this was well before email. I remember the instrument to be pretty basic and a bit clunky with the huge metal bell joint. Carried […]
Read MoreThe “Fatal Flaw” in Fox Contrabassoon Model 920
A fatal flaw! Update Jan 2020: Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the Fox 920 Contrabassoon to anyone who wants to play at something approaching a professional level. I have a major case of buyer’s remorse and Fox has refused to perform the work required to fix it. Frustratingly, they have also informed any repair people associated […]
Read MoreThe Google Bassoon Quartet!
One of the neat things about working in a big company is the varied interests you’ll find amongst the people who work there. But where else but at Google could I find not one, but THREE excellent bassoon players? After discovering each other, we worked up a repertoire. We performed a few times that we […]
Did famous conductor Fritz Reiner really fire a musician for using binoculars in rehearsal?
Its well documented that Fritz Reiner, one of the most well known conductors of American classical music led ensembles with a baton that barely moved. In Conservatory, many of us shared an apocryphal story about how he once fired a musician for bringing binoculars in a rehearsal when to help “find” the beat. One afternoon, […]
Read MoreMusic: Homage to Donald Erb
For my junior recital I commissioned a new piece. The piece was written by composer Geoffrey Petersen for solo bassoon. I performed the premier in the spring of 1997. I was honored to have Mr. Erb present for the performance. It touched me very much that he stayed for the entire concert.
Contrabassoon Solo
This is my performance of “The Elephant” from the Carnival of the Animals played on Contrabassoon. The accompanist is Margo Schwartz. Performed in the Severance Recital Hall in Cleveland in 1996. Listen:
Read MoreApple Hill Music Festival
In the summers of 1995 and 2000, I performed as a member of the Apple Hill Summer Festival. Fun times and fond memories of Dobbs, Eric, Cathy et al.
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