BLAIRE K.S.
KOERNER
 

It is time for another Tuneful Tale. In this episode, we want to take you on a guided meditation Want to support our creations? Buy us a coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hatsandheelsduo Or Support on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/hatsandheelsduo?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US Tuneful Tales - Hats+Heels Music: Crystal Depths - Kincaid Rabb Dr. Blaire Koerner - bassoon and video editor Zachary Peterson - piano Dr. Rosanna Moore - narrator #harp #chambermusic #bassoon #crystaldepths #KincaidRabb #meditation #piano #tunefultales #newmusic

2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least, bringing quite a few challenges to all of our doorsteps. As a musician, experiencing not just practicing but performing by oneself offered an opportunity to learn new unaccompanied bassoon repertoire. I selected these pieces in particularly as they provide brief snapshots of the emotions, adjustments and growth that I have experienced over these months – something, on some level, I think we can all relate to. About Dr. Blaire Koerner: ECMS Bassoon Instructor and Chamber Music Coach, Dr. Blaire Koerner received her DMA from Eastman and continues to grace us with her excellent programming and thrilling performances. Plus she is a member of the Eastman's Institute for Music Leadership team where she mentors current students of all levels!

"It's Silk, Feel It" is one of Alec Wilder's (1907-1980) octets written in the late 1930's for a unique combination of instruments. Originally commissioned to write "jazzy music" for a movie, which was never produced, Wilder became inspired to develop the compositions into 31 octets, each with a quirky title (Her Old Man Was Suspicious, A Debutante's Diary, Neurotic Goldfish, etc...). The collection was greatly admired by none other than Frank Sinatra, who conducted the 1946 Columbia Records recording later titled "Frank Sinatra Conducts the Music of Alec Wilder." Performance: Dr. Blaire K.S. Koerner DMA Recital, 2017 Eastman School of Music www.blairebassoonist.com Flute/Clarinet, Karl Stabau Oboe, Elena Sloman Clarinet, Hannah Pearson Bass Clarinet, Joe Clark Bassoon, Dr. Blaire Koerner Bass, Stephen Jones Drum Kit, James Petrello Harpsichord, Zachary Zwahlen Conductor, Dr. Kevin Holzman

This unaccompanied bassoon piece translates into "Happy Easter to You, Devos!" It's the eleventh waltz from the 16 Valses Para Fagote & Sonatina (16 Waltzes for Bassoon and Sonatina) by the Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone (1897-1986). For more information about Francisco Mignone and the waltzes visit: musicabrasilis.com/composers/francisco-mignone & www.cmich.edu/colleges/cam/MUS/P…none_Volume_I.aspx Recorded with Blue on Blue Studio, November 2020 Dr. Blaire K.S. Koerner www.blairebassoonist.com

East Coast Premiere performance of Megan Bledsoe Ward's Nevertheless Commissioned for BARP by Archipelago Collective Composer's Notes: Funding generously provided by the American Harp Society and the International Double Reed Society This piece was inspired by Elizabeth Warren, who in 2017 objected to the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General by reading a letter by Coretta Scott King that spoke to Sessions’ abuse of power in silencing minority voices and actively impeding social justice advocacy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to this letter being read on the senate floor, on the grounds that it impugned the conduct of a fellow senator. McConnell later spoke of the incident by stating that even though she was warned not to continue reading the letter, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” This line, “Nevertheless, she persisted,” has become a rallying cry for progressives, feminists, and social justice advocates across the country, and it was very inspiring to me in its idea that regardless of how powerful the opposition, we should persist in doing what we know to be right and just. So this piece is partially a reaction to the divisive state of our country and our world. Even though it feels dire, nevertheless, I think it is important, if not crucial, to continue making art. This is also an apt title for this particular piece, because I was writing for two instruments that are often misunderstood. We often think of the harp as being associated with angels and heaven, and yes it can play beautiful music, but it can do a lot of other things too. The bassoon often gets lumped into playing “oom-pas” or, like the cello, imitating the vocal quality of the human voice. And while these instruments can and often do fulfill these roles, I wanted to highlight how effective they can be in other scenarios, that might be more like funk beats or rock and distortion sounds. Most of all, I wanted this to be a really fun piece to listen to and to play. You’ll notice that I included some extended techniques on both instruments: the harpist will use a piece of paper woven between the strings to add a buzzing sound in the middle of the piece, while other sections highlight harmonics or playing close to the soundboard. The bassoonist will perform a glissando at times, slowly sliding from one note to the next, and will use flutter tongue for a growl to match the tone of the paper between the strings of the harp. Performed by Hats+Heels Duo Dr. Blaire Koerner - bassoon Dr. Rosanna Moore - harp https://www.hatsandheelsduo.com/ Recorded by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording, Rochester NY http://www.blueonbluerecording.com/