VSU double-reed recital scheduled

April 02, 2007 11:51 pm

— VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University Music’s Double Reed Studios present an evening of oboe and bassoon music. Featuring student double-reed players from the music department, this concert will expose the audience to music which showcases these rare and challenging instruments.
Professors Susan Eischeid and Scott Pool encourage their students to perform in this way to help overcome the many challenges inherent with playing a double-reed instrument, according to VSU.
One of the biggest challenges is the double reed itself.
“All oboists and bassoonists are carpenters in addition to musicians, spending many hours carving and whittling two pieces of bamboo, or cane, into the small double reeds which provide the unique timbre of the instruments,” Eischeid notes. “Notoriously difficult to play, the double reed’s distinctive sounds provide them the opportunity for lots of solos. Mostly because when they are playing, you simply can’t hear anyone else.”
The challenges of the oboe and bassoon seem to affect the performers in different ways, she notes.
The oboists in an orchestra are usually referred to as “curmudgeons,” while the bassoonists have been described as “amiable clowns.”
People have also written that “the oboist is as sour as the bassoonist is sweet,” Eischeid notes.
The evening will also honor Dr. Lamar Pearson, who retired recently from the VSU history department.
“For many years Dr. Pearson has been an avid supporter of the Oboe Studio, providing generous and ongoing contributions to the Kurt Michaelis Oboe Scholarship Fund & Endowment at the university,” Eischeid notes.
Performers include Pierce Christie, Boston Foulk, Sara Hatchett, Ellyn Marcus, Salli-Tymna Parker, Suzanne Matos North, Julianne Larsen, Kyle Lineberry, Dashaun McGee, Kristi Soutar, Jarrett Glass and Martyne Pisarchuk as well as an appearance by the Blazer Bassoon Ensemble and the mixed double reed consort. Accompanists include Dr. Lyle Indergaard and Ashley Burns.

• CONCERT
VSU Music Double Reed Studios Recital.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Whitehead Auditorium, VSU Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.
Admission: Free and open to the public. Reception follows.