Alternative Strategies for the Refinement of Bassoon Technique Through the Concert Etudes, Op. 26, by Ludwig Milde

Abstract

This document demonstrates that study and performance of newly-composed versions of four etudes from Ludwig Milde's Concert Etudes, Op. 26 (publ. post. 1935) can prepare advanced bassoon students for performance of not only the etudes themselves (which includes advanced techniques such as rapid single tonguing, double tonguing, difficult slurring, tapering, an execution of complicated scales and arpeggios in the context of a musical passage, half-hole, vibrato, flicking, and control of long notes in extreme registers), but also can be used to address both performing and technical issues not covered in Milde's study, such as the problems posed by ensemble playing, tone-color, and rhythm.The project analyzes a selection of four etudes from the Concert Etudes, Op. 26 in terms of harmony and form, explores the technical difficulties found in each one of them and their possible approaches, and provides arrangements for two bassoons, bassoon and piano, and bassoon quartet, giving the student a new palette of options for the study of the Concert Etudes, Op. 26 and new devices for the improvement of various techniques.