Demonstrating the Need, Creation, and Implementation of a Modernized Digital Bassoon Repertoire Catalog By Jason Zachary Davis, MM BM A Dissertation In Bassoon Performance Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS Approved C. Richard Meek Chair of Committee David Dees Rachel Mazzucco Lisa Rogers, DMA Mark Sheridan Dean of the Graduate School August 2019 Copyright 2019, Jason Zachary Davis Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS Many thanks to all those who have supported me in this process, but most particularly Richard Meek, David Dees, Rachel Mazzucco, Lisa Rogers, and Sally Podrebarac. ii Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements . ii List of Tables . iv Abstract . v I. Overview . 1 Justification . 2 Limitations . 2 Review of Related Literature . 3 II. Specific Methodology . 8 Organizational Methodology . 10 DBRC Entry Construction . 11 Examples of DBRC Entries . 14 Methodology Concerns . 17 III. Practical Implementation. 19 IV. Implications for Future Research. 30 Bibliography. 32 Appendix. 34 iii Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 LIST OF TABLES 2.1 Cells 1 – 4 of DBRC entry for GP Telemann Sonata in f-minor . .15 2.2 Cells 5 -7 of DBRC entry for GP Telemann Sonata in f-minor. 15 2.3 Cells 8 – 9 of DBRC entry for GP Telemann Sonata in f-minor. 16 3.1 Listing of Works Found in B. Koenigsbeck Bassoon Bibliography. 20 3.2 Listing of Works for Bassoon and Horn Duet from DBRC. 22 3.3 Periodic Chronology of Works Represented in DBRC. .24 3.4 Distribution of nationalities, Bassoon / Horn duet in the DBRC. .25 3.5 DBRC Entries Referenced by Chronology and Nationality. 26 3.6 A potential recital program drawn from the DBRC. 28 iv Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 ABSTRACT There is a demonstrable need for a modernized repertoire resource for bassoon repertoire due to the limited scope, outdated nature, and various individual shortcomings of all extant options. This project will seek to establish this need via examination of existing resource and make an effort to effectively design a concise methodology for the creation of a modernized Digital Bassoon Repertoire Catalog. With methodology established, examples of implementation and avenues for further development will be provided. Major repertoire catalogues to be surveyed include – Bodo Koenigsbeck Bassoon Bibliography, TrevCo-Varner Online Retail Catalog and the Accolade Online Retail Catalog. Specific concerns to be addressed consist primarily of issues of scope and accessibility. v Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 CHAPTER I OVERVIEW Every year, a qualifiedly significant number of young bassoonists schedule, program, and perform recitals as part of their ongoing education. The educators that assist them with that process have expert knowledge of the instrument and the music written for it, and yet it seems that the vast majority of those recitals feature the same subset of the repertoire. Given the sheer scale of the body of work available for performance it would appear that some other force is at play. The author believes that the most likely culprit is that the standard repertoire is standard for a reason, and that the small collection of essential pieces preferenced more or less across the pedagogical spectrum is so significant to the modern identity of the instrument that its practitioners unequivocally must study and perform them to adequately consider themselves trained. It is true, for example, that the Mozart Concerto is a wonderful example of Classical style and has certainly earned its position of influence by virtue of its enduring popularity and richness of educational tradition, but that does not necessarily mean that it should be studied to the exclusion of other works which may provide similar insight into the performance style of the period and genre (i.e. Devienne or Reicha.) A similar point might be made regarding the Hindemith Sonata, a cornerstone of the standard repertoire often used to introduce extended tonality and nontraditional phrase structure that could easily be paired with less frequently performed works by Etler or Gallon. Many educators and professional performers do make a concerted effort to emphasize works outside the standard repertoire, intentionally selecting otherwise 1 Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 obscure or unique pieces to program. In the author’s opinion this should be encouraged, but even with the help of such laudable experimentation the issue remains. The resources for finding such works can be less than readily apparent to students, therefore general knowledge of the literature available to them remains limited. The following will examine the available resources students can utilize in the search for non-standard repertoire and discuss the needs for and creation of a modernized digital alternative. Chapter one provides an overview, justifications for and limitations of the study, a review of related literature. Chapter two is concerned with the specific methodology of creating a new repertoire catalog, including specific examples of complete catalog entries. Chapter three provides a dedicated example of practical implementation of the new resource by investigating music for the bassoon and horn duet. Chapter four discusses avenues for potential further research and presents an overall conclusion regarding the subject of existing repertoire catalogs and the contributions of the new digital alternative. Justification for the Study By examining the existing resources concerning bassoon repertoire research, bassoon students will be made aware of the extant options available to them. The discussion of a viable digital alternative to the extant resources will provide a framework through which further developments in the field of repertoire research might be better realized in the future. Limitations of the Study This document will limit itself to the examination of major repertoire catalogs that are accessible to the average university bassoon student or professional bassoonist and the 2 Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 hypothetical requirements of a new digital alternative. It will not represent the actual creation of a digital alternative to extant bassoon repertoire research but will instead focus on potential issues and opportunities involved in that process in addition to the practical implementation of a working prototype on a small scale. Review of Related Literature Four significant print catalogs and two online databases concerning the greater body of repertoire for the instrument exist currently, alongside a number of articles and dissertations discussing more specific areas of composition, While some earlier works, most notably Lindesay Langwell’s 1965 The Bassoon and Contrabassoon and Archie Camden’s Bassoon Techniques (1962) do include significant repertoire information, the first dedicated attempt to catalogue the repertoire was Wayne Wilkins Index of Bassoon Music, Including the Index of Baroque Trio Sonatas, published in 1976. While the Index is noteworthy as the earliest systematic attempt to take stock of bassoon repertoire, it is limited in its scope. At eighty-eight pages in length, Wilkins categorizes works in terms of title, composer and publisher. The Index of Bassoon Music does contain the majority of standard works and is an excellent resource for researchers seeking information on Baroque composers. For students and performers searching for non-standard repertoire outside of the Baroque period however, the Index may prove less useful due to its organizational methods and general lack of content. In addition, the Index is currently out of print and difficult to find outside of private collections or university holdings. Another significant resource is Burchard Bulling’s Fagott Bibliographie, published in 1989. The book is organized in four parts by the role of the bassoon in the 3 Texas Tech University, Jason Zachary Davis, August 2019 composition. Part A consists of works featuring the bassoon as a solo instrument including method and etude books, books on fingering, unaccompanied works, and works for bassoon with ensembles of various sizes. Part B repeats the process is in the realm of chamber music with ensembles ranging from two to ten players and includes works with chorus, narrator, and some electronic media including film. Part C focuses on works for contrabassoon. Part D is a bibliography of books, dissertations, and articles on the bassoon. Indices follow for composers, publishers, and music libraries. In the author’s opinion, some limiting factors regarding accessibility do exist for Bulling’s catalog. The text is written entirely German, which can be a barrier for some. The array of detailed characteristics available for each of Bulling’s entries remains limited to work title, composer name and dates, publisher information, and specific instrumentation. Additionally, no updated edition of the catalog has been released since 1989, which does mean that three decades of repertoire is now completely unrepresented. Bodo Koenigsbeck’s 1994 catalog, titled Bassoon Bibliography, is a more recent publication which addresses some of the author’s concerns with Bulling’s book. Bassoon Bibliography features an extensive index of works organized by instrumentation but is presented fully in not only German but French,