On 04 Dec 2003, at 08:29 AM, Christopher BJ Smith wrote:
At 6:26 PM -0500 12/03/03, Darcy James Argue wrote:I don't mean to pile on, but this struck me as odd as well. While I know a number of people who are able to circular breathe on woodwinds, my impression is that it is considerably more difficult to do on brass instruments, especially trumpet. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard anyone circular breathe on trumpet.
But of course, if the piece is being written with a specific performer in mind, then it isn't an issue.
Circular breathing IS a virtuoso technique, and requires a specialist. James Ranti, former first trumpet of the Montreal Symphony could do it, as could Ellis Wean (now tubist in the Vancouver Symphony), and I heard most of the French horn section in the Montreal orchestra fifteen years ago could do it as well. I was able to do it when I was in university on bass trombone, but discovered recently that somewhere along the way I lost it from lack of practice. My brother sent me a digeridoo from Australia, and circular breathing is pretty much essential for that instrument, and it is WAY harder than on trombone, let me tell you!
Hmm... I always expected that circular breathing would be easier on a digeridoo -- maybe because the bore is so much wider than a brass mouthpiece?
Anyway, my friend Josh Sinton, a great multi-woodwind player, first learned to circular breathe on digeridoos. It was only after he had mastered the technique on the digeridoo that he was able to transfer the skill to his other woodwinds. He still tends to do it more on the lower instruments (bari sax and bass clarinet) -- I don't know if that's because it's easier on those instruments or just because he feels like doing it more often when he's playing the low winds.
- Darcy
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[EMAIL PROTECTED] Brooklyn NY
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