BLAIRE K.S.
KOERNER
 

This unaccompanied bassoon piece translates into "Chôro - Waltz." It's the sixth waltz from the 16 Valses Para Fagote & Sonatina (16 Waltzes for Bassoon and Sonatina) by the Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone (1897-1986). For more information about Francisco Mignone and the waltzes visit: musicabrasilis.com/composers/francisco-mignone & www.cmich.edu/colleges/cam/MUS/P…none_Volume_I.aspx Recorded with Blue on Blue Studio, March 2021 Dr. Blaire K.S. Koerner www.blairebassoonist.com

A harpist himself, Bernard Andrès (b. 1941) wrote this seven movement work for harp and either cello, horn, or bassoon. For our performance of this, we commissioned seven pieces of artwork based on the seasons from a young artist, Catherine Oldfield. I. Andantino (0:00) II. Allegro (1:59) III. Larghetto (4:27) IV. Adagietto (7:20) V. Andante (9:12) VI. Allegretto (11:06) VII. Moderato (13:48) From French Songs of the Season faculty recital on July 9th, 2019 Eastman Community Music School Dr. Blaire Koerner, bassoon Dr. Rosanna Moore, harp www.blairebassoonist.com

This unaccompanied bassoon piece translates into "Happy Easter to You, Devos!" It's the eleventh waltz from the 16 Valses Para Fagote & Sonatina (16 Waltzes for Bassoon and Sonatina) by the Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone (1897-1986). For more information about Francisco Mignone and the waltzes visit: musicabrasilis.com/composers/francisco-mignone & www.cmich.edu/colleges/cam/MUS/P…none_Volume_I.aspx Recorded with Blue on Blue Studio, November 2020 Dr. Blaire K.S. Koerner www.blairebassoonist.com

Suggestion for Bored Dancers is first in a collection of pieces from the 1956 recording "The New Music of Alec Wilder." These works were commissioned by guitarist Mundell Lowe and his orchestra, featuring both classically-focused and jazz musicians in a cutting-edge style of the time. These pieces were never printed or published, so the parts utilized for this performance were arranged and transcribed from the original scores and recording by Blaire Koerner. For more information, visit: www.blairebassoonist.com Performance: Blaire K.S. Koerner, DMA Lecture Recital Eastman School of Music March, 2018 (Permission for public viewing was granted by the Wilder estate.)

On July 16th, we celebrate the birth and legacy of an activist, journalist, educator, and researcher that battled and spoke out against racism, sexism, and violence - Ida. B Wells. Want to support our creations? Buy us a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hatsandheelsduo Tuneful Tales - Hats+Heels Music: Florence Price, Hold Fast to Dreams Dr. Blaire Koerner - narrator, bassoon, video and audio editor Dr. Rosanna Moore - harp Please see below the resources used for this episode: ​​“Ida B. Wells-Barnett,” National Women’s History Museum, accessed July 5, 2022, ​​https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ida-b-wells-barnett “Ida B. Wells-Barnett Papers,” Digital Public Library of America: Black Women’s Suffrage, accessed July 5, 2022, ​​https://blackwomenssuffrage.dp.la/collections/ida-b-wells/ibwells-0010-002-12 Meeks, Catherine, and Nibs Stroupe. Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as Prophet of Our Time. New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2019. “The Way to Right Wrongs: Celebrating the Legacy of Ida B. Wells.” New York Public Library, last updated July 16, 2018, https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/07/16/way-right-wrongs-celebrating-legacy-ida-b-wells

East Coast Premiere performance of Megan Bledsoe Ward's Nevertheless Commissioned for BARP by Archipelago Collective Composer's Notes: Funding generously provided by the American Harp Society and the International Double Reed Society This piece was inspired by Elizabeth Warren, who in 2017 objected to the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General by reading a letter by Coretta Scott King that spoke to Sessions’ abuse of power in silencing minority voices and actively impeding social justice advocacy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to this letter being read on the senate floor, on the grounds that it impugned the conduct of a fellow senator. McConnell later spoke of the incident by stating that even though she was warned not to continue reading the letter, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” This line, “Nevertheless, she persisted,” has become a rallying cry for progressives, feminists, and social justice advocates across the country, and it was very inspiring to me in its idea that regardless of how powerful the opposition, we should persist in doing what we know to be right and just. So this piece is partially a reaction to the divisive state of our country and our world. Even though it feels dire, nevertheless, I think it is important, if not crucial, to continue making art. This is also an apt title for this particular piece, because I was writing for two instruments that are often misunderstood. We often think of the harp as being associated with angels and heaven, and yes it can play beautiful music, but it can do a lot of other things too. The bassoon often gets lumped into playing “oom-pas” or, like the cello, imitating the vocal quality of the human voice. And while these instruments can and often do fulfill these roles, I wanted to highlight how effective they can be in other scenarios, that might be more like funk beats or rock and distortion sounds. Most of all, I wanted this to be a really fun piece to listen to and to play. You’ll notice that I included some extended techniques on both instruments: the harpist will use a piece of paper woven between the strings to add a buzzing sound in the middle of the piece, while other sections highlight harmonics or playing close to the soundboard. The bassoonist will perform a glissando at times, slowly sliding from one note to the next, and will use flutter tongue for a growl to match the tone of the paper between the strings of the harp. Performed by Hats+Heels Duo Dr. Blaire Koerner - bassoon Dr. Rosanna Moore - harp https://www.hatsandheelsduo.com/ Recorded by Marc Webster at Blue on Blue Recording, Rochester NY http://www.blueonbluerecording.com/