projects
BASSOON BAND AT DUKE
Bassoon Band at Duke is a free community gathering open to all bassoonists in the Durham, NC area. We meet on selected Saturday afternoons to play a variety of chamber music written and arranged for bassoon ensemble. We also have periodic group reed-making sessions. Send me an email if you'd like to attend, or for more information: rachael [at] bassoonproject [dot] org
** FALL 2013 BASSOON BAND DATES TO BE POSTED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER **
Our spring session culminates in a collaboration with Mallarmé Chamber Players on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Casbah in Durham. How Low Can You Go? is a concert devoted entirely to the bassoon and bassoon ensembles.
Performers include Dark in the Song members: Rachael Elliott (Duke), Saxton Rose (UNCSA), Peter Kolkay (Vanderbilt) and Michael Harley (Univ. South Carolina), plus Michael Burns (UNCG) and a "pop-up" community bassoon ensemble made up of local and regional bassoonists.
How Low Can You Go?
Sunday, April 21 at 7:30 pm
Casbah
1007 West Main Street, Durham, NC
SPRING 2013 BASSOON BAND DATES:
Saturday, Feb. 16, 4-6 pm
Saturday, Mar. 2, 4-6 pm
Saturday, Mar. 23, 4-6 pm
Saturday, Apr. 13, 12-2 pm
Monday, Apr. 15, 5-6:30 pm
Tuesday, Apr. 16, 12-1 pm live performance on WUNC's The State of Things
Saturday, Apr. 20, 1-3 pm
Sunday, Apr. 21, How Low Can You Go? All-bassoon concert
7:30 pm at Casbah in Durham
Sponsored by Mallarmé Chamber Players
Thursday, Apr. 25, 10-10:40 am outreach concert at Voyager Academy in Durham
CD RELEASE
Polka the Elk is my new CD with five world premiere recordings of bassoon music by Australian Padma Newsome, Canadian Tawnie Olson, and American David Lang.
Released 9/15/2011 by Music Starts From Silence
"weird and wild tunes" —Time Out New York
"one of the sharpest executors of new-music currently on the scene" —WQXR/Q2 Music
TRACKLISTING:
1. À mon seul désir (2005) by Tawnie Olson
Rachael Elliott, bassoon; Adrienne Kim, piano
2. Polka the Elk (2001) by Padma Newsome
Rachael Elliott and Janet Polk, bassoons; Bill Solomon, vibraphone/percussion
3-9. With Eyes Cast Down (2004) by Padma Newsome
Rachael Elliott, bassoon; John Orfe, piano, harpsichord;
Padma Newsome, viola, voice, piano, harpsichord
10. Press Release (1992) by David A. Lang
Rachael Elliott, bassoon
11. Bed and Rest (2006) by Padma Newsome and Clogs
Bryce Dessner, guitar; Rachael Elliott, bassoon;
Thomas Kozumplik, marimba, percussion; Padma Newsome, piano
> Download CD liner notes [89 KB PDF]
> Download Polka the Elk concert program [180 KB PDF]
> Listen to Polka the Elk on Soundcloud
SHADY GULLY
In February and March 2012, I spent three weeks in Australia with my dear friend and musical colleague, Padma Newsome, developing new music in his Shady Gully collection and performing shows in Mallacoota, Maleny and Brisbane.
Padma performed beautifully on piano, harmonium, viola, tenor ukulele, electric guitar, and vocals, and I joined him on the bassoon.
'Shady Gully' is named after the forest preserve in Padma's hometown and the music is inspired by the stunning coastal environment and people of Mallacoota. Our Shady Gully concert includes songs and instrumental tunes, selections from Padma's new opera, 2 Moon Smile, Clogs' tunes, and music from Polka the Elk. Thanks to our wonderful hosts, presenters and audience members in Australia!
Clogs performs new versions of Shady Gully in June/July 2012 during our summer tour of the USA and Canada.
> Download the Shady Gully program from our Brisbane concert at St Mary's Kangaroo Point [400 KB pdf]