Rock, Paper, Scissors (sc/parts) - 2BSN/CBSN

Rock, Paper, Scissors
for two bassoons and contrabassoon

by Lindsey Wiehl - American composer and bassoonist

This is the printed music.  For the PDF download, click HERE.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

Rock, Paper, Scissors is a playful musical reimagining of the familiar hand game, written for two bassoons and contrabassoon. Commissioned by Kirsten Kennedy and Jacob Fernandez in 2023, the work takes advantage of the agility and the range of the bassoon while creating musical characters from the three simple gestures of rock, paper, and scissors.

The piece begins “Strict Allegro,” establishing an energetic, tightly controlled musical world in which short gestures are passed among the three players, expanded, interrupted, and set against insistent rhythmic patterns. As the game unfolds, the music moves through three explicitly labeled ideas. Rock arrives with forceful attacks, sharp dynamic contrasts, and a sense of physical weight. Paper, marked Andante, changes the character dramatically: longer lines and a more lyrical, flowing texture temporarily soften the competitive energy. Scissors, marked Allegretto, Swung, introduces yet another personality, replacing Paper’s lyricism with a snazzy-jazzy character.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Dr. Lindsey Wiehl is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Maine at Augusta. She had formerly been teaching music classes at Valley City State University and Indiana University Kokomo. Dr. Wiehl holds several degrees in music including a B.S. in Music Education from the College of Saint Rose, an M.M. and a D.A. in Bassoon Performance from Ball State University, and a Professional Certificate in Advanced Music Production from Berklee College of Music. Among her favorite performance experiences include performing with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, National Music Festival, and the Arizona Opera. As a musician, Dr. Wiehl encourages others to unapologetically pursue their interests while ignoring stereotypes and preconceived notions of what it means to be a musician. She performs and has her compositions performed at national and international conferences and has several active commissions.  Lindsey Wiehl is a songwriter, performer, and music scholar. She believes that the brainy and complex side of music can and should co-exist with the enjoyable and fun side of music. Her research includes digging into musical analysis, composition, and creating opportunities to bring typical classical instruments into varying genres. You can learn more about her work at www.lindseywiehl.com.