This collection of multiphonic fingerings and wave files is intended to be a resource not only for performers, but also composers.
The multiphonic fingerings in each index are listed by the note-name of the Heckel-system bassoon fingering they most closely resemble. This note-name almost certainly is not one of the sounded pitches. Readers are encouraged to consult Don Christlieb's Pictorial Fingerings which contain most of the fingerings in this index. His work indicates the approximate pitches sounded by the fingerings.
The wave files for the multiphonic fingerings were recorded by Lisa Hoyt and Terry Ewell on April 13, 1997. Todd Campbell was the recording technician. Timothy Rhodes helped to convert the files to a format that could be loaded on the IDRS site.
Comments by Hoyt and Ewell appear in the second column. You will note that some of the fingerings produce varied results when played by different people on various makes of bassoons. The wave sound files for the fingerings may be heard by clicking on the file names in the third column.
You may also access the files through the ftp directory at: ftp://www.idrs.org/BsnMulti/
Please be aware that the wave files are quite large, and will take considerable time to download.
Terry Ewell played a Heckel bassoon serial number 12859 with a Heckel C2 bocal.
Lisa Hoyt played a Fox-Renard model 240, short bore, serial
number 22116 with a Heckel CD1 bocal.
File examples: Mudx2ah.wav, Mubb1be.wav, Mud2ce.wav
The first two letters, "Mu," are short for multiphonic. The next two or three characters gives the fingered pitch note name. "dx2" is D sharp 2 (low D sharp). "bb1" is B flat 1 (low Bb), "d2" is D2 (low D). The lower case letter after the note name is for cataloguing purposes only. Thus, Bb1a is the first Bb1 fingering, Bb1b is the second Bb1 fingering, etc. The last letter before the .wav extension refers to the performer: Ewell's sound files end with an "e" and Hoyt's sound files end with an "h" before the .wav extension.
Mudx2ah.wav -- multiphonic fingering similar to D#2, the first one, played by Hoyt
Mubb1be.wav -- multiphonic fingering similar to BB1, the second one, played by Ewell
Mud2ce.wav -- multiphonic fingering similar to D2, the third one, played by Ewell
What is a wave file?
Sound files come in different formats: MIDI (.mid), wave (.wav), etc. The wave file format is a digital recording of the actual sound, unlike midi files which are regenerated by each person's computer. Wave files can reproduce any sound (bird calls, bassoon notes, basketball bounces). Unfortunately the wave files are also larger and will take much longer to download than MIDI files
How do I play a wave file?
You have several ways to play the wave files depending upon your computer and software. From a computer equipped with multimedia (software, sound card, and speakers) you can:
1) choose to play the wave file directly from the MIDI Index (Readme file in the MIDI ftp directory) and accompanying files by clicking on the underlined file names in the table.
2) choose to download the MIDI file to your computer or floppy disk from the MIDI ftp directory and play it on your computer. Some software programs such as Microsoft Internet Explorer will prompt you whether to save the file or disk or play it directly from the site when you click on the underlined file names in the MIDI Index (Readme file in the MIDI ftp directory). Other ftp software is available commercially.
I am having problems accessing the multiphonic indexes and the wave files. Why is this?
This page you are now reading resides in a different directory in the IDRS server than the multiphonic indexes and files. It is sent in a different manner to your computer than the indexes and files, so some users may be able to access this page and not the multiphonic site. We are still experimenting with the site to improve the delivery of files to all web browsers. Here might be some reasons you were unable to access the multiphonic index and files:
If after several attempts you are still experiencing problems accessing the site contact Yoshiyuki (Yoshi) Ishikawa (ishikawa@spot.colorado.edu). Please include a description of your Internet browser (Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, etc.) with the version number, your Internet provider (ATT World Net, MSN, etc.), and your modem connection (by phone line with U. S. Robotics 56K Modem, etc.). Also provide the wording of any error messages you received.