In an article in the 1977 IDRS Journal, "An Account of the Extended-Possibilities Bassoon of Cuciureanu," Otto Oromszegi gave a description of the experiments being made in Rumania by the Bucharest Conservatory Professor Gheorghe Cuciureanu to alter the key structure of the German bassoon in a way which makes easier many awkward combinations of note progression. Because we have not yet seen a photograph of the instruments, it is hard to imagine exactly what changes, additions, or subtractions have been made. But I have now received a tape recording from Mr. Oromszegi which demonstrates the possibilities of this instrument very well.
The tape recording includes three separate pieces, all ably performed by Professor Cuciureanu:
"Miniatura" for Bassoon and Piano by Gh. Cuciureanu (a short excerpt of the bassoon part is illustrated below, showing some of the challenging note combinations the bassoonist shows are "easy" with his instrument.)
If the schedule had permitted more time at the Evansville IDRS conference, I would have arranged for a group hearing of this interesting tape. As we were completely busy with so many activities, I did manage to locate a quiet room where Richard Lottridge and I could listen to the entire tape. We both agreed that for a bassoonist age 60, Prof. Cuciureanu plays extremely well, musically and with a fine robust tone quality. All the passages of technical virtuosity come off "without a hitch," so it is a very impressive performance.
I hope to receive photographs of the Cuciureanu-model bassoon in the near future. When possible, I will print them for IDRS bassoonists to study .