25 Vocalises (Cangialosi) - BSN/PN

Collection - 25 Vocalises by Bordogni, Concone, Marchesi, Nova, and Sieber
for bassoon and piano
transcribed by Clair Cangialosi

31 page bassoon part, 65 page piano score

This project was inspired by the idea of a “singing bassoon sound,” which can be traced back to the turn of the nineteenth century. Specifically, the pedagogical approach of Etienne Ozi (1754-1813), which encourages students to consult the Méthode du Chant du Conservatoire de Musique, a comprehensive vocal method based on the Old Italian School of singing. Although both the bassoon’s mechanism and performance practices have changed significantly since Ozi’s time, the concept of a singing bassoon sound has endured. These Twenty-Five Vocalises, in this case referring to textless teaching pieces for voice, are the result of my doctoral research which examines the overlap between bassoon pedagogy and that of the bel canto singing style. Each of the five composers whose works are included in this collection either were active during the height of the Bel Canto era or in the musical generation that followed it. They were each acclaimed performers and/or teachers and made significant contributions to their field.
The project draws on sources written for each basic voice type, with some transposed at the octave to fit the range of the bassoon. Apart from slight adjustments, the composer’s original notation, including the placement of breath marks and rhythmic conventions, have been retained. It will likely not be necessary for a bassoonist to take all the indicated breaths, but they should still be observed as a lift in between phrases. Otherwise, any decisions regarding the omission of any breath marks are left to the discretion of the performer. Note that in No. 11, a dotted 8th/ 16th rhythm is used in place of the unequal division of a triplet. 2
The vocalises are designed to be accessible to bassoonists at varying stages of their musical development. They were selected to encourage the cultivation of legato phrasing, a resonant sound with centered pitch, and efficient breath management. The research and transcription process has been a wonderful learning opportunity. I hope that the Twenty-Five Vocalises inspire creativity and are a useful and enjoyable addition to the bassoon repertoire.

Happy Bassooning!

- Clair Cangialosi