DePREIST TO CONDUCT "CARMINA BURANA" IN
FINAL 2001-2002 OREGON SYMPHONY CLASSICAL CONCERT
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Portland, Ore. … The unmistakable "Carmina burana," Carl Orff's lusty masterpiece whose simple yet powerful harmonies have virtually inundated popular culture, will highlight the Oregon Symphony's final 2001-2002 Classical Concert, conducted by Music Director and Conductor James DePreist May 18 through 21 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert also will feature the Symphony premiere of Michael Daugherty's "Hell's Angels," featuring the Bassoon Brothers complete in motorcycle outfits. Sponsorship is provided by Tektronix.

The concert will begin with Arvo Pärt's work for strings, "Fratres," followed by Daugherty's off-beat "Hell's Angels," which will receive its first commercial recording Wednesday, May 22, by DePreist and the Bassoon Brothers.

On the second half of the program, the Portland Symphonic Choir will join DePreist in "Carmina burana," featuring Tracy Dahl, soprano, Glenn Siebert, tenor, and Richard Zeller, baritone, as soloists.

The work's characteristic themes have been utilized in countless movie trailers, advertisements and popular films including "Braveheart," "Glory," "The Doors" and "Excalibur." According to program annotator Jim Svejda, "This astonishingly simple, musically primitive setting of some bawdy medieval lyrics can be a dazzlingly effective experience … we are thoroughly convinced that this is music that a gland would write, if only it could."

In addition to pre-concert talks one hour before the concert, Oregon Symphony Classical concerts regularly include additional opportunities for listeners to learn more about the music and the orchestra.

These activities include:
Saturday: The conductor will discuss the program from the podium in "Symphony Interactive." Media support for "Symphony Interactive" is provided by KINKfm102.
Sunday: Audience members will be invited to stay for a 15-20 minute panel discussion with musicians and/or the conductor. Media support for "Sunday Night Post-Concert Discussion" is provided by KBPS.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 20, at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $17 to $72 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.

Bassoon Brothers

The Bassoon Brothers have been stirring up trouble since they began performing together in 1985. They have stolen material from string quartets, operas, symphonies and popular music, calling it their own with the unmistakable Bassoon Brothers stamp. Their first CD recording, "Wanted for Low Down Playing and Bass Behavior," on Crystal Records showed many of their musical crimes. They commissioned another known associate felon, a fellow bassoonist, Peter Schickele, a.k.a. P.D.Q. Bach, for some hot goods and more rip-offs. Since the release in 1999, the Bassoon Brothers CD has been the number-one selling recording of all solo or group bassoon recordings on Amazon.com. The irreverence they demonstrate and theft of material continues with a completed second recording soon to be released and a third recording partially completed.

Due to the serious nature of their crimes, the Bassoon Brothers have spent some time in prisons in Oregon and California. Performing in prisons has become a passion for the group. They have shadowed the Oregon Symphony on Northwest tours for years performing their purloined material in schools, and retirement centers and community outreach programs. The Bassoon Brothers pioneered the Symphony's Bridgeport Brew Pub Chamber Music on Tap with every performance a sell-out. The unusual criminal nature of the group caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal, where their photo appeared with an article about the bassoons/brew connection, as did another article in the Seattle Times. HBO's Dennis Miller Show featured a photo of them with the comment that they were the finalists in the Fifth Annual Amsterdam Bong Hit Festival. The same photo was a recent clue on ABC's Jeopardy show. Answer: "What is a bassoon?"

What the bassoon does not have is respect. That's why the Bassoon Brothers call it "the Rodney Dangerfield instrument." Their mission is, first, for the public to quit calling it an oboe and, second, a call for more people to take the instrument seriously. They consider the bassoon to be an endangered instrument for lack of players. In the right hands, the "clown of the orchestra" is capable of great versatility and beauty as well as its role as a "belching bedpost." In some reviews the Bassoon Brothers have been called role models for younger players, having given them material to enjoy the bassoon just for the fun of it. Through this approach they hope to attract more players to the instrument, which is their ultimate mission. As for getting respect, Vivaldi wrote 37 concertos for the bassoon, more than any other instrument, except the violin. Unfortunately, it's been down hill ever since as a solo instrument.

The Bassoon Brothers are also known as the bassoon section of the Oregon Symphony. Mark (head de ranger) Eubanks, his side kick Robert (de Viper) Naglee, Steve (de new guy) Harriswangler and Juan De Gomar. This represents Juan's final performance with the Oregon Symphony and the Bassoon Brothers. He has taken a new position with the Atlanta Symphony.