Bassoon

Mandatory music selection requirements for auditioning as a bassoonist.

Recruiting for this instrument
is currently closed.

Mandatory music selections

Requirements for your audio recording

Selection may use accompaniment. Sheet music will not be provided.

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform one etude from the following list:

• Orefici, Alberto - 20 Melodic Studies no. 2, 6, 10 or 14
• Milde, Ludwig - Fifty Concert Studies op.26 no. 3, 6, 7 or 12

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform one of the following works:

• Mignone, Francisco - 16 Waltzes, Valsa ingênua & Macunaíma
• Lussier, Mathieu - Cinq Caprices pour basson, no.1 & 5
• Weber, Carl Maria von - Bassoon concerto in F major, op.75 mvt. 1
• Vivaldi, Antonio - Concerto in E minor RV. 484, mvt. 1
• Pierné, Gabriel - Solo de concert, op.35

Optional Selections - Perform one selection of your choice.

We will contact you with your results

The music selection board will assess your submission. When the assessment is completed, you will be informed whether or not you are selected to participate in a live audition.

Live audition process and preparation

All live auditions will be performed with a Regular Force Band.

The live audition is divided into 4 parts:

• solo performance
• ensemble performance
• theory and aural skill tests
• Music Branch interview

Solo performance

Prepared solos

You must prepare at least two pieces of contrasting musical styles. One piece must be from the list in Mandatory Selection No. 1. The second piece is left to the candidate’s choice.

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform one of the following works:

• Stamitz, Carl Philipp - Concerto in F
• Mozart/Weissman - Concerto no.1 in Bb K191
• Vivaldi, Antonio - Concerto no.1
• Pierné, Gabriel - Solo de concert, op.35
• Stevens, Halsey - Three Pieces
• Elgar, Edward - Romance

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform a solo of your choice that best exemplifies your abilities.

Optional Selections - Perform a solo of your choice that demonstrates your versatility in any other musical style or on a secondary instrument.

Scales and arpeggios

• Chromatic Scale – from low Bb to high Bb
• Diatonic Scales (All keys) – Major, Harmonic and Melodic Minor
• Arpeggios (All keys) – Dominant and diminished 7ths. Dominant 7th arpeggios will be built on the Dominant (5th degree) of the designated scale, and Diminished 7th arpeggios will be built on the Leading Tone (7th degree) of the designated scale. In each case, the arpeggio will be followed by its resolution to the Tonic

Note: All scales and arpeggios must be played from memory, 2 octaves (where possible), in 16th notes at quarter = 84 bpm.

Articulations to be requested:

• All slurred
• All tongued
• 2 slurred, 2 tongued
• 2 tongued, 2 slurred
• 2 slurred, 2 slurred
• 3 slurred, 1 tongued
• 1 tongued, 3 slurred
• 1 tongued, 2 slurred, 1 tongued

Ensemble performance

Prepared pieces

Perform various styles of music playing in different ensembles. Material will be provided 4 weeks prior to your audition.

Sight-reading

Perform various styles of music while sight-reading in different ensembles. Material is provided at the audition.

Theory and aural skill tests

Musical theory

A music theory test will be performed and you will recognize:

• signs
• terms
• chords
• intervals
• score types
• transposition
• abbreviations
• time signature
• identifying keys
• cadences and melody writing
• major, minor and other scales and modes

Aural Skills

The aural skills test will including the following:

• melodic dictation
• incorrect notes in a given melody
• separate dictation treble clef and bass clef
• intervals - harmonic, melodic, ascending and descending
• chords (triads) - major, minor, 1st and 2nd inversion and 4 notes chords: Dom7, dim7, aug7

Music Branch interview

A selection panel within the Regular Force Band will assess you. After the audition, you will be interviewed by the panel. All recordings and assessments will be sent to DHH Music for final selection.

Final selection will be based on the panel’s recommendations.