History, Development, and Performance of Extended Techniques on the Bassoon with Special Focus on Philippe Hersant's Hopi and Kalevi Aho's Solo V

The ability to learn and execute extended techniques is not universal among bassoonists, yet the concept of extending technique in general has been fundamental to the development and evolution of the bassoon over the centuries. Many of the techniques that are considered nontraditional and extended in today’s modern bassoon repertoire will most likely be considered commonplace in the future as many of the historical examples explored in this treatise are now. As there is no writing to date on the history and development of extended techniques for bassoon, it is the goal of this treatise to explore the relationship between compositional demand, instrument design, and the historical trajectory towards what today’s bassoonists consider to be extended techniques. Additionally, this treatise will provide concrete performance instructions for the extended techniques found in two twentieth-century works: Philippe Hersant’s Hopi and Kalevi Aho’s Solo V. The advice given for these techniques offers bassoonists a set of tools that can be transplanted into many contemporary works and more that will be written in the future.