An Interview with Composer-Bassoonist Damian Montano

During our performance on May 21, Orchestra Santa Monica will be premiering Damian Montano's "Three Night Pieces" for bassoon and string orchestra.  Montano will also be the bassoon soloist in this work and we thought it would be wonderful to provide you with a brief introduction and concert-preview here in the form of a question and answer session with Mr. Montano.  Enjoy!

Damian Montano, composer and soloist

Q:  Would you please briefly explain the design of the bassoon and how it is played?
 
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument, in the double reed family, related to the oboe and English horn. The sound is made when air passing through the two pieces of cane causes them to vibrate against each other. Reeds are such an integral part of playing our instrument that we spend as much time making them as we do practicing the instrument.  The bassoon has a big range of low to high notes (about 3-1/2 octaves), so it has a great spectrum of colors and character.  It's usually made of maple, and if stretched out, it would be over 8 feet long. The bassoon's key work is pretty complex, with 13 keys used only by your two thumbs!
 
Q:  Do you own more than one bassoon, and if so, when do you use one particular instrument versus another?'
 
In addition to the standard bassoon, I have a contrabassoon which is really low!  One octave below the bassoon... its lowest note is the lowest black note on the piano. I had the tremendous privilege of playing it on the Star Wars and Big Friendly Giant scores with John Williams.
 
Q:  The bassoon is so wonderfully versatile and bassoon players seem to have a lot of "personality".  In the book "The Mastery of Music" by Barry Green, the author says he's 
noticed that there's a close association between musician qualities and the instruments they play. For example, the cello is associated with passion, percussion and horn players associated with courage, the violin with concentration, and the trumpet with confidence.  Players of the bassoon, the flute, oboe, and clarinet are described as being disciplined.  Interestingly, bassoon players are also mentioned along with trombone, tuba, and double bass players as being fun. Do you find these characteristics fitting, in yourself and in other musicians you know?
 
I can concur that we that play in the bass clef are a friendly and laid back bunch!
 
Q:  What was one of your most interesting and/or exciting performances?
 
One of my most exciting performances was the time I premiered my concerto at the 2012 International Double Reed Society Conference. There were about 1000 double reed players in the audience, which can be a little intimidating, but they were actually a really friendly crowd. One of the most exciting things for me as a composer and bassoonist is to perform my own music, especially a concerto like this when you're accompanied by a full orchestra.
 
Q:  What inspires you when you compose and how does the creative process unfold for you?
 
So many things inspire me... the view from my studio, playing in the middle of the orchestra and hearing it come together from the inside.  As for the creative process, sometimes inspiration hits me randomly and with clarity, and other times the ideas are a bit more fragmented, and it takes me sitting at the piano to explore and figure things out. Many times ideas come to me sitting on stage in a concert hall, or when I'm half asleep or waking up from a nap.
 
Q:  Are there any special features or moments in your "Three Night Pieces" that you recommend we listen to closely so we can more fully appreciate them?
 
This piece has some modern tonality, but it is very much in the classical concerto form... a three-movement "fast-slow-fast" format, with the first movement in sonata allegro form, a lyrical second movement, and a third movement in rondo form. Also listen for the influence of film music. I was excited to make this string version because I've always been captivated by the excitement, energy, and colors that Bernard Herrmann captured with his all-string score to "Psycho".
 
Q:  Are you currently working on any new compositions and if yes, would you please tell us about them?
 
I recently finished a trumpet sonata, and a trio for oboe bassoon and piano that will be featured at the upcoming International Double Reed Society Conference. A counterpart concerto to "Three Night Pieces" is under way, called "Three Pieces for a Summer Day".
 
 
Hope you enjoyed the interview and see you at the concert!

- Many thanks to Damian Montano -
 
P.S.  The full concert program on May 21 is Haydn Symphony No. 22, "Three Night Pieces", and Schubert Symphony No. 5.  A great program for OSM's season finale!

 
 
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online  here.
$30 general admission, $25 seniors,
$15 college students with ID, $10 students K-12
  

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Orchestra Santa Monica