Polka-Doodle Polka (score & parts) - 2OB/EH/2BSN/CBSN

Polka-Doodle Polka
for two oboes, English horn, two bassoons and contrabassoon
by William Spencer (b. 1956) - American composer, bassoonist and conductor

ABOUT THE MUSIC

Sometimes the title can prove to be the most challenging element in writing a piece of music. Although there is not (to my knowledge) a dog breed called a Polka-Doodle, I thought this might be a fun and distinctive way to identify what I trust is a fun little piece. Johann Strauss would probably label this a "polka-schnell" and, to quote another composer, what was good enough for the master is good enough for the man. The tempo should be as brisk as feasible, though "fun" should really remain the primary objective--it was very fun to write and I hope it is very fun to play. (As an added treat, you may find a quick reference lurking to a popular cartoon series of yesteryear.)

- William Spencer, 8/24

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Bassoonist, conductor, and composer William Spencer began his serious musical studies on bassoon at age 12 (after a few years of piano lessons had no apparent effect whatsoever). His teachers included among others Leonard Sharrow and Sherman Walt, former principals of the Chicago and Boston Symphonies respectively. He holds degrees from Boston University in bassoon and musicology, and a doctorate in conducting from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he studied with Frederik Prausnitz. Over the course of five summers at the Aspen Music Festival he studied bassoon and conducting at different times, the latter with Paul Vermel. As a composer he has dabbled in song cycles, smaller-scale choral works, and double-reed-themed diversions.