Julius Weissenborn

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Christian Julius Weissenborn (April 13, 1837, in Friedrichs-Tanneck near Eisenberg, Thuringia - April 21, 1888, Leipzig) was a bassoon player, teacher and composer. He was principal bassoonist of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Apart from a small canon of Romantic works, he is chiefly remembered for his tutor, Practical method for the bassoon, Fifty Advanced Studies, which is still in widespread use.

The Practical method for bassoon is broken into several sections. The first is a general introduction to the bassoon, including several illustrations. The next section contains all the major and melodic minor scales. The next, longer, "Practical exercises" is divided into twenty-six lessons. These slowly progress from easy to difficult, gradually expanding the range of the instrument. The last two are primarily taken up with Tenor clef and ornaments. The next section, entitled "Daily studies", is a collection of short variations on major, minor, and chromatic scales, as well as various arpeggios. The following two sections were not written by Weissenborn, but are still included in some editions of the book. The first contains longer exercises in all the major and minor scales, and was written. by C. Almenraeder. There follow 25 more difficult studies, including long stretches in the extreme upper register of the bassoon, written by L. Milde. The next section consists of fifty bassoon studies of increasing length and difficulty. These were written by Julius Weissenborn. After that is Ungarische Fantasie, Andante e Rondo Ongarese, a virtuoso passage for solo bassoon written by C.M.v. Weber. The book closes with an index of musical terms.