Johannes Schwarz, the bassoonist on this album, has been the principal bassoonist of Ensemble Modern since 2003 and is known for his experimental techniques.
Instruments
The contraforte, an instrument closely related to the contrabassoon but with greater sound presence and optimized dynamics, is featured on this album.
Compositional Technique
Luciano Berio's Sequenza XII for bassoon, a classic of contemporary solo bassoon literature, is notable for its almost 20-minute duration with virtually no breathing pauses.
Recording & Production
The album was produced at the studio of the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt, a research institution dedicated to the scientific investigation of aesthetic phenomena.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The collaboration between Johannes Schwarz and the composers on this album aimed to redefine the technical and sonic limits of the bassoon.
Recording & Production
Most of the composers on this album, except for Luciano Berio and Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, worked with Johannes Schwarz's digital bassoon sound archive.
Instruments
Johannes Schwarz created a digital bassoon sound archive (www.soundlibrary.online) in 2018, collecting and systematizing a vast spectrum of bassoon sounds.
You might also enjoy...
Walker: Music for Woodwinds
Sonatas Españolas para viola y piano: Del Campo, Fleta Polo, Gerhard & Cervelló
The Voice of the Viola in Times of Oppression
Into The Blue
Freedom of Movement • 21st Century Trumpet Concertos
French Saxophones - 25 Years Jubilee
Fortmann, T.: Sax Music
Nicolai, Mozart & Bizet: Chamber Works
Hoffer: Cosmic
Three by Three
Gouvy: Musique de chambre pour vents
Asteria
Schuller, G.: Suite for Wind Quintet / Piston, W.: Wind Quintet / Carter, E.: 8 Etudes and A Fantasy / Diamond, D.: Partita
