The American Bassoon School: 1900–1950
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The American Bassoon School: 1900–1950 A document submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the Performance Studies Division of the College-Conservatory of Music November 2016 by Jessica Esther Garduno-Albo BA, Escuela de Música Ollin Yoliztli, 1998 MM, University of Cincinnati, 2004 Committee Chair: bruce d. mcclung, PhD ABSTRACT The development of the American bassoon school was the result of three, not two influences, as has been previously purported.1 These influences were American conductors’ aesthetic ideas; European musicians from different musical schools emigrating to the United States and playing in its orchestras, and teaching in the most important music schools in the country; and the assimilation of students who would subsequently become the first generation of American-trained bassoonists. The methodology for this study includes primary and secondary sources, the comparison and contrast of sound spectrum and sound wave analysis of recordings made by the conductors and players from this time period, and the examination of scores that some of these bassoonists edited. The elements compared in this study are the preferences for a type of instrument and its tone color, a controlled vibrato, and the use of detailed phrasing, which will be studied through articulations and dynamics. This comparison shows connections among the different elements and influences on the American bassoon school. This study aims to present an historical and stylistic overview of the American bassoon school and to argue for three influences. 1 David McGill, Sound in Motion: A Performer’s Guide to Greater Musical Expression (Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2007), 4. ii Copyright © by Jessica Esther Garduno-Albo. All rights reserved. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank those who made this project possible. To Patti Rencher and James Tenney, my grateful acknowledge for their administrative support. To Paul Cauthen, for his always kind technical and digital support. To Mark Palkovic and Tom Shessler, for their warm and unconditional hospitality and friendship. To David Sandor, my deepest gratitude for his friendship, patience, supportiveness, and time spending proofreading. To Dr. bruce mcclung, for his ethics, perfectionist drive, and inspirational pedagogical and musicological guidance. To Mr. Martin James and Mr. William Winstead, for giving me the Great Opportunity of Education. For making me understand music on a greater level. For their patience, absolute and unconditional support on every step of this journey. For their inspirational strength and musicianship. To my family with love and gratitude. To my Mom. (A mi madre, con el más profundo agradecimiento. Por su ejemplo de valentía, fortaleza, perseverancia y apoyo incondicional. Por brindar a mi vida una perspectiva libre y sin limites. Por ser la cuarta dimensión del amor.) iv Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………......ii Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………………iv Copyright Permissions……………………………………………………………..........viii List of Musical Excerpts……………………………………………………………….......x List of Figures………………………………………………………………………...…. xiv List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………...……...... xvii Introduction….…………………………………………………………………………......1 Chapter 1. Orchestras, Conductors, and Players come together in the Unites States 1. Orchestras in the Early Twentieth Century: a. New York Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic Orchestra before and after Their Merger. b. Boston Symphony Orchestra: Its French Background. c. Philadelphia Orchestra: Its German Background. d. NBC Symphony Orchestra: First Generation of American-Trained Musicians. 2. Conductors: Their Conducting Approach to Tone Color, Vibrato, and Phrasing, Including Articulation and Dynamics… a. Arturo Toscanini: New York Philharmonic and NBC Symphony. Dry Sound and the Acoustics of Studio 8H. Orthodox Approach to Printed Scores. b. Serge Koussevitzky: Boston Symphony’s “Sound, Precision, and Flexibility.” c. Leopold Stokowski: The Philadelphia Sound, Free Editing and Arrangements. 3. Players: i. Émigrés and American Studying in Europe ii. Benjamin Kohon and Simon Kovar: The New York Philharmonic and Their German Background. iii. Walter Guetter: Stokowski, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the German Playing School. iv. Raymond Allard and Marcel Tabuteau: The French Playing School and the Metamorphosis in Their Playing over Time. i. First Generation of American Bassoonists ii. Sol Schoenbach: His Synthesis of Tabuteau’s, Stokowski’s and the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Styles. iii. Leonard Sharrow: His Synthesis of the French and German Bassoon Playing School with Toscanini’s Style. v Chapter 2. Playing Styles: French, German, Early American…………………………….73 a. French School b. Tone Color: Frequency Extension, Harmonics, and Acoustic Energy in Sound Spectrum Study c. Vibrato: Speed, Pitch, and Oscillation Profile d. Phrasing: i. Dynamics: Changes and Their Profile. ii. Articulation: Different Articulation Profiles, and Articulation Lengths. 1. German School a. Tone Color: Frequency Extension, Harmonics, and Acoustic Energy in Sound Spectrum Study b. Vibrato: Speed, Pitch, and Oscillation Profile c. Phrasing: i. Dynamics: Changes and Their Profile. ii. Articulation: Different Articulation Profiles, and Articulation Lengths. a. American School b. Tone Color: Frequency Extension, Harmonics, and Acoustic Energy in Sound Spectrum Study c. Vibrato: Speed, Pitch, and Oscillation Profile d. Phrasing: i. Dynamics: Changes and Their Profile. ii. Articulation: Different Articulation Profiles, and Articulation Length Chapter 3. Sound Spectrum Study..……………………………………………………….95 1. Criteria for the Study of the Sound Spectrum Analysis 2. Comparison and Contrast of the Sound Spectrum of the Vibrato 3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Fifth Symphony Op. 64: 1. Philadelphia Orchestra, Conducted by Stokowski, with the Solo Played by Guetter, 1934. 2. Boston Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Koussevitzky, with the Solo Played by Allard, 1944. A. Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring: 1. Philadelphia Orchestra, Conducted by Stokowski, with the Solo Played by Schoenbach, 1940. 2. Boston Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Monteux, with the Solo Played by Allard, 1951. B. Ravel’s Orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition: 1. Boston Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Koussevitzky, with the Solo Played by Laus, 1930. 2. NBC Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Toscanini, with the Solo Played by Sharrow, 1947. C. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sixth Symphony Op. 74: 1. Philadelphia Orchestra, Conducted by Toscanini, with the Solo Played by Schoenbach, 1942. 2. NBC Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Toscanini, with the Solo Played by Sharrow, 1947. vi 3. Appendix to Chapter 3 Chapter 4. Comparison and Contrast of the Phrasing Approaches, Articulation and Dynamics, Made by Conductors to Orchestral Excerpts and to Bassoon Repertoire by Players. The Connection of Their Aesthetics:………………………………………..115 A. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Fifth Symphony, Op. 64: a. Stokowski, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Guetter, 1934. b. Koussevitzky, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Allard, 1944. B. Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition: Il Vecchio Castello a. Koussevitzky, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Laus, 1930. b. Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra, and Carmen, 1953. C. Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice: ii. New York Philharmonic, Conducted by Toscanini, with Kohon and Kovar, 1929. a. W. A. Mozart, Bassoon Concerto, K. 191: b. Guetter: Editorial Markings of the Most Played Edition in the United States. c. Sharrow: Editorial Markings. 1. Antonio Vivaldi, E-minor Bassoon Concerto, F.VIII, 6: a. Schoenbach: Stokowski’s Influence on Schoenbach’s Editorial Markings and Phrasing. b. Sharrow: Toscanini’s Influence into Sharrow’s Editorial Markings and Phrasing 2. C. M. von Weber, Bassoon Concerto, Op. 75: a. Schoenbach: Stokowski, Tabuteau, and the German Tradition in Schoenbach’s Editorial Markings. b. Sharrow: Toscanini’s Influence and Sharrow’s French-German Training in his Editorial Markings. Final Conclusion……………………………..………………………………………..…147 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………..157 vii Copyright Permissions Orchestral Excerpts Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Fifth Symphony, Op. 64. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, n.d. (ca.1930). Orch.-B. 3347. New York: Edwin F. Kalmus, n.d. (after 1933). Public Domain. These files are part of the Orchestra Parts Project. Igor Stravinsky, Rite of Spring. Paris: Editions Russes de Musique, 1921. Reprinted: New York: Edwin F. Kalmus, n.d. (after 1933). Public domain in the United States. Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition. Il Vecchio Castello. Paris: Editions Russes de Musique, 1929. Reprint: New York: Boosey & Hawkes, n.d. (after 1947). Plate B. & H. 17,841. LICENSE REQUEST NEVER REPLIED. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sixth Symphony, Op. 74. Leipzig: Breikopf & Härtel, n.d. (ca. 1930). Orch. –B. 3347. Reprint: New York: F. Kalmus, n.d. (after 1933). Public Domain. These Files are Part of the Orchestra Parts Project. Paul Dukas, Le Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Paris: Durand & Fils, 1897. Plate D. & F. 5292. Reprinted: New York: Edwin F. Kalmus, n. d. (1933–1970). Public Domain. Repertoire Excerpts W. A. Mozart, Konzert B-dur = B♭ major, Fagott und Klavier= Bassoon and piano, K.V. 191 ; mit Kadenzen versehen von J. Walter Gütter. Frankfurt- M. : Verlag F. Hofmeister ; London :