About Reed Rage · Who? · Concerts · Bios · Pictures · Video · Contact · Repertoire · Reviews · Links
About Reed Rage · Who? · Concerts · Bios · Pictures · Video · Contact · Repertoire · Reviews · Links
Reed Rage had a great outing on Wednesday 18th January, in the church on the Open University campus in Milton Keynes. New arrangements by our very own arranger (Boris Turner) were featured as well as some old favourites. Immediate feedback was very encouraging as was this email a few hours later to the organisers:
“…just wanted to say WOW about Reed Rage! They were sooo musically tight and wonderful and the sound was gorgeous. I want to learn the contrabassoon!! Let's get them back sometime. Many thanks for bagging them.”
Reed Rage opened the lunchtime recital at the Big Double Reed Day on Sunday 6th November. www.bigdoublereed.com/ Playing to an audience made up entirely of bassoonists ranging from the age of seven to over seventy is always a daunting task, but after raging through three pieces we inspired others to want to form quartets too!
15th October saw Rage in full swing at the wedding of two bassoonists:
"Thanks so much for providing the perfect music for our wedding at the Foundling Museum. The entrance and exit music for the ceremony were great, and the register-signing piece provided just the appropriate tone. Lots of guests commented on how much they enjoyed Reed Rage. And your Lone Arranger presentation at the dinner break was a real highlight of the evening. We're delighted that we asked you." Best
Rick and Caroline.
Another successful Rage outing was at Brentwood Musical Society on 15th September Also this concert featured a radio interview for Saint FM 94.7 on the Sunday before - an East Essex radio station with a classical programme called "Classics Ahoy" hosted by Stephen Foster-Pilkington who had come across this site and our videos on the web and contacted us.
Reed Rage had a fabulous outing at St. Anne's Kew (the beautiful Church on the Green) on 24th July 2011. Over eighty people came which was a nice surprise and for once we had digital recorder and video handy. You can see some clips here on Vimeo vimeo.com/tomhardybassoon/videos
"If you ever doubted the musical effectiveness and appeal of a Bassoon Quartet, Reed Rage will change your mind and have you shouting for more!
Expect the unexpected (Tchaikovsky’s pizzicato Scherzo?? – yes, really!) and relish the results! Reed Rage performs a delightfully varied repertoire of witty, imaginative arrangements and original pieces, displaying both the lightest of touches and a rich blend of expression. It’s a wonderful sound: quirky, entertaining and, thanks to the enviable artistry of the players, musically very satisfying and refreshing.
For anyone planning a musical occasion, Reed Rage makes a novel alternative to singers and string quartets. Adding an extra dimension of fun, this unusual and wonderfully polished ensemble will guarantee musical pleasure and sparkling entertainment." Guy Thomas, Schott Music Ltd.
Reed Rage appeared at The Big Double Reed Day www.bigdoublereed.com - a huge event with over 340 attendees which can be read about in the latest British Double Reed News magazine.
Three of the members of Rage helped give reed making classes, "try a contra" and one even ended up conducting dozens of oboes and bassoons in the final concert for a rendition of the first movement of Gounod's Petite Symphonie!
7th October at 1.00pm saw Reed Rage at The Music Centre Warwick for a packed lunchtime concert.
This was the first concert of the Warwick Music Centre's Autumn Season and the enthusiastic audience and full hall made this a very memorable occasion.
Reed Rage performed at Burgh House in Hampstead on 12th October 2009. Over fifty people crammed into the room to hear the wondrous delights of bassoonery.
From Entrance of the Gladiators to The Lone Arranger by Philip R Buttall and the first European performance of the jazz influenced Dance of the Polar Bears composed by Gernot Wolfgang it was a fabulous evening of raging revelry.
"Four bassoons are rarely seen together in the wild, tending to lead nomadic yet relatively territorial orchestral lives. It was a great pleasure to be reminded how good four bassoons sound together when played by four good bassoonists." John Wingfield.
"The combination of these rich, mellow sounding instruments was both warm and vibrant. The choice and arrangement of music was thoroughly appealing and the venue added to the soft and romantic ambience. I look forward to the next performance and have raved to many about this new style quartet!" L.M. English Teacher.
And see the write up on Jonathan Burton's blog complete with sound clip:
jonathanburton.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/reed-rage-bassoon-quartet/
"By far the best bassoon quartet I have ever heard in concert. Not even the lack of oboes could detract from the enjoyment of an evening of Reed Rage." Lawyer and Part-Time Cor Anglais Player
"I really enjoyed it and I do not like the bassoon" G.R. Viola Player
Audio and visio will be appearing soon.