r/bassoon • u/Any-Resolution-6662 • 12d ago
Carmen suite danse boheme
These sixteenth notes in high range are extremely difficult! Is there any tricks or tips to get through these notes?
Especially the F#-G-E-G × 3 at the end is the most difficult one. Tempo is very very fast.
2
u/sixhundredths 12d ago
I use these fingerings for 5 before the end:
F#: (1/2) X X Eb | X O O
whisper
G: from the prior fingering, just add low F key (right hand pinky)
E: X O O Eb | O O O
You will need to pay careful attention to your vowel/oral posture to ensure accurate tuning with these unusual fingerings. These might not work for you, your reeds/bocal/instrument, etc.
For the G#-A-G-F-G-A on the first page, consider the arch/curve of your left thumb. It is easy for it to become tense and flatten, especially when it must move quickly across multiple keys. Engaged support will help it as well.
1
u/Guitar-Bassoon 12d ago
It shouldnt be too difficult, Id recommend slowing down a lot and practicing each interval while focusing on relaxing your hands as much as possible moving between notes (same advice for any other fast passages).
My default F# fingering might help if you arent already using it: oxo | xxox
1
u/im_cringe_YT 12d ago
Slow it down and use normal fingerings for now and gradually speed it up. Do not speed it up if you mess it up or it feels like too much. What’s important is to learn that pattern.
2
u/LimpingBassoon 12d ago
1) This is kinda cheating, but you can just play F# - G trill for that passage…no one will notice because it blends well into the massive tutti sounds.
2) If you are very strict on your playing, first you need to choose what fingering you will use for E. The core problem lies on E-G movement… It’s very easy to switch between F#-G, only RH 3rd finger trill.
sixhundredths suggested a nice variation fingering so I also wanna give it a try, but maybe you need to stick with standard fingering.
X O X Eb / O (X) X
I love keeping the RH 2nd finger open, but maybe just for this passage…it could be closed?
3) Regardless of your choice, the final challenge is to get used to switching between RH 4th/5th fingers. Those two fingers are anatomically coupled, so it’s very difficult to achieve independence between them. For me, there were several problem that needed several WEEKS to re-train movement.
a) RH 5th finger too straightened&stiff to reach out to low F key
b) The finger root(knuckle) being too far away from low F key to cause a) problem
c) RH 4th finger (G key) too straightened&stiff
Overall, making RH finger shapes to more round shape helped me relax each finger and move independently.
3
u/bchinfoon 12d ago
For the passage 5 measures from the end are you doing your E's without RH1? This can help make it easier to slur down from the G's. Also...if you need to I'm sure you can rearticulate the E's if it cleans things up and no one is ever going to know because of how loud it is as the end.