Daniel Baldwin

This summer, I wrote a piece that was premiered at the International Double Reed Convention at NYU in NYC on August 7th in Skirball Hall. It is called "Dark Side of the Moon" and is a triple concerto for 2 amplified bassoons, rock band, and wind ensemble. The bassoonists were rock/jazz bassoonist Paul Hanson (best known from his time with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Richard Ramey (principal bassoon of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra). The West Point Band accompanied and the rock band was made up of members of West Point, as well. The performance was very successful and very well received. The piece begins with an electric guitar solo, so the hall was blacked out and one spotlight was aimed at the guitarist for the introductory solo. Within about ten seconds everyone in the audience (mostly made up of professional double reed players) understood what the piece was and the crowd commenced to scream and yell like it was a rock concert. It was a lot of fun. Probably the most fun I have had doing a commission project from start to finish. 

 

I was asked several times, "what made you think to write a rock concerto for bassoons?' The short answer is that it was a commission (I was requested to write it). However, I was happy and excited to take it on. As "classical" musicians we are always looking for ways to be relevant to general audiences in the world at large. The piece was born out of a desire to assist in bridging this gap. There is something for everyone in this piece.

 

This piece was commissioned by Richard Ramey and a consortium of 40 other bassoonists, university wind ensembles, professional wind ensembles, and military bands. The bassoonists (Paul Hanson and Richard Ramey) and I will be arranging what we will be calling "the "Dark Side Tour." It is our hope to help organize performances with each of the consortium members over the course of the next two years.