Rachmaninov Ave Maria
„This video was inspired by the quarantine period, which I have spent in my flat. This was a great period actually, I could have some extra time playing the bassoon. I love this instrument and getting in love with it more and more:)
I hope you will enjoy this video. It is an arrangement of a friend of mine, Mihály Duffek Jr. The video itself was cut by another friend, Máté Bán“.
Anna Beleznai
Concerto Budapest Orchestra
May 2020
One day we were processing a large batch of cane and needed a break; since we all had our bassoons with us we quickly decided to do what bassoonists do when they get together: play some quartets! This Canzona by Gabrieli was a joy to play, and we hope it brightens your day as well.
David Petersen – Principal Bassoonist Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, HMT Rostock
Dominik Schulz – Principal Bassoonist Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau
Teodor Naumov – Principal Bassoonist Musikalische Komödie Oper Leipzig
Jakob Then Bergh – Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock
Frank Morelli’s Happy Easter Video
„Happy Easter! Mignone wrote one of his waltzes to wish the great bassoonist Noel Devos a happy Easter. Francisco Mignone was born in Brazil, but his parents had immigrated to Rio from Italy. All of my grandparents immigrated from Italy and landed at Ellis Island, and my parents were both born in the NYC area.
Like visionaries Mario de Andrade and Heitor Villa-Lobos, Mignone chose to embrace his Brazilian culture in his music. In fact, those two visionaries are mentioned in titles in his 16 Brazilian Waltzes for solo bassoon.The influence of Brazilian popular (meaning music of the people) music is clear, but I also sense an influence of the Italian “street song.” Perhaps it’s just the lyricism, joy, pathos and humor, all of which are not exclusive to one national style. But, I remember hearing my family singing “Oh, Marie” and other Italian favorites at family “feasts” in parks, at home or at the beach. Those memories also influence how I perceive Mignone’s waltzes“.
Frank Morelli April 2020
Oh, Marie, Valse-Choro
„Here’s Mignone’s “Valse-Choro“ preceded by Eduardo Di Capua’s „Oh, Marie“. As I wrote in my previous posting of Mignone’s Easter Waltz, his beautiful Brazilian waltzes often remind me of the Italian songs my family sang at family events. “Oh, Marie” was a favorite. I thought I’d share a little of that Italian song, followed by the Mignone.
This pause in our daily lives is allowing me to spend hours singing on my Leitzinger bassoon. I am very grateful for that. Life is good. Hope you enjoy this. Please stay safe, dear friends“.
Frank Morelli April 2020
Devienne Sonata Eb
Stephen Rudman is a bassoonist from Maryland and has recently joined the bassoon section of „The President’s Own“ United States Marine Band. Before joining the band, he performed in a variety of other ensembles including Symphony in C, The Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and the Verbier Festival Orchestra. His teachers include Martha Sholl of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Laura Koepke of the Erie Philharmonic, Jeff Robinson of the Chautauqua Symphony, Frank Morelli of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and Billy Short of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Stephen has been enjoying playing on his Leitzinger bassoon since 2016.
„Like other musicians around the world, I find myself socially distancing at home right now. Though I’ve missed performing for others, it has been wonderful to get to spend some quality time with my somewhat new Leizinger Model I bassoon (I’ve had it since September 2019), reading beautiful music just for fun! This is a video of Bach Cello Suite 1 BWV 1007, Menuet I-II, recorded from my home in New York City“.
Nanci Belmont April 2020
Praised as „Outstanding“ by the New York Classical Review, bassoonist Nanci Belmont is the Second Prize winner of the 2016 Gillet-Fox Competition of the International Double Reed Society. A proponent of the music of our time, she is a member of The City of Tomorrow, a wind quintet dedicated to the performance and expansion of contemporary repertoire. She has performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New York City Ballet, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Talea Ensemble, and has enjoyed additional performances with the Charleston, Princeton, and Cape Cod Symphony Orchestras. Nanci was a 2012-2014 Fellow of Ensemble Connect (formerly Ensemble ACJW), and serves on faculty at the Longy School of Music of Bard College and Molloy College.
Le nozze di Figaro arr. Dominik Schulz
„The Marriage of Figaro premiered in May 1786, so recording the overture seemed an apt way to fill the void that has been created by not being able to play with my colleagues (both in the theater and the Leitzinger Bassoon Quartet). Enjoy!“
Dominik Schulz May 2020
Dominik Schulz is a German-born bassoonist who grew up in the US and is now back in Germany as principal bassoonist of the Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau. He has played in orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester and the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Also a founding member of the Leitzinger Bassoon Quartet, his many arrangements are available through TrevCo Music Publishing.
Leitzinger Bassoon Quartet minus two – Joseph Bodin de Boismortier
„A small musical offering from two members of the Leitzinger Bassoon Quartet. We miss our colleagues, but are happy to be able to offer up some music in reduced formation“.
Dominik Schulz and Teodor Naumov May 2020
Since 2012, Teodor Naumov is the Principal Bassoonist of the Comic Opera Leipzig. He has played in orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Frankfurter Opern- und Musuemsorchester, Varna Philharmonic and the State Orchestra of Sofia.
