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Der alte Brummbär

(The Old Grumbly Bear)

by Julius Fučík

Kenosha Symphony Orchestra

Youth Concert

10/8/2010

That's me in the Urlacher jersey.

That's a park district employee in the bear mascot get-up.

And, that's a lot of singing while playing to sound like a bear growling. I took Fučík's notation quite literally when he writes "ad libitum und recht komisch blasen".

I used to play in a Neil Diamond tribute band called Noise Conspiracy. Harkening to what we envisioned as the ideal instrumentation for Neil's music, we played accordion, euphonium, and bassoon (and occasionally piano). In fear of blemishing my career as a professional classical bassoonist any further, I'll refrain from additional details.

Here are some liner notes...

Circular breathing?

Yours truly on the drum set.

Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of being a king?

Singing back-up:

And, that's me playing piano.

In 2002, I wrote and performed some soundtrack music for a short (very short) film. Barrel of Monkeys is a theater ensemble that adapts and performs stories written by Chicago Public School 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Typically, the stories are acted out live for the schools and also for the public. Occasionally, the actors will film them. The screenplay for Ordering Cars was written by 3rd-grader David Evans.

The music in the soundtrack is comprised of about 30% normal bassoon playing and 70% bassoon sound effects. Strange? Yes. I assure you, the "music" on these clips are all made from a bassoon.

1) Bocal/Tongue Popping

2) Multi-Phonics

3) Long Joint + Bell = Didgeridoo

4) Long Joint + Bell + Reed = ???

5) Singing While Playing

Now, going way back!...

1998 Master's Degree Recital

1997-98 Various Recitals

1997 Recording Session - Orchestral Excerpts

1995 Bachelor's Degree Recital