When bassoonist Sol Schoenbach recently wrote to Vincent Persichetti inquiring why the opening G-flat in the bassoon part for the Beethoven 4th Symphony "sounded out of tune", he received in reply some marvelous insight into the work and how the bassoonist could approach performing it:
March 26, 1984 Dear Sol,
The first high G-flat in Beet. 4th sounds out of tune only when you are not playing! Remember that the opening starts with what I think of as a huge but quiet B-flat minor harmonic appoggiatura to the tonic major. This means that the G-flat is pulled down by the F gravity. I often hear the G-flat played as a "higher" F-sharp as though the key was shifting to G minor.
However, how can I be that sure of anything except the fact that I miss hearing you at Broad and Locust, or seeing you in Bryn Mawr or Wise Mill Road.
Warmest wishes,
Vincent
P.S. I am now writing a solo work for your sister double reed.
It is a much shorter instrument but beautiful.
And when Dr. Schoenbach wrote back requesting permission on publishing Persichetti's remarks, he received not only that but some further advice on understanding and performing Beethoven's 4th:
April 22, 1984 Caro Sol(enne),
Of course! Do publish my Vinsol scribblings in your Double Reed magazine. Perhaps I can give those bass oboists a further suggestion:
At the opening of the Beetfourth, pretend that this is Beethoven's unfinished symphony. The last movement never existed. When the horns announce the "end" of the symphony (at the close of the scherzo) be surprised by the windy fast music of an extra movement. Relax and enjoy until you get to:
Then delete middle C (the second horn has this note anyway). This gives the bassoonist 3 1/2 full measures to pray. Never count measures here, just pray. P dolce - don't worry about being sweet here - simply let it flow (never thinking about fingering). As soon as the applause begins, thank God for not having you double on the oboe.
I'll write to Trevor Cramer and finish my Serenade for Solo Oboe in Five Movements and hope that you do not mind my writing for soprano bassoon.
Good wishes,
Vincent