Music

You’ll never see a show quite like this, nor expect it to be so much fun. The four ladies of the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet combine their training as classical bassoonists with pop-culture sensibilities and a dash of comedy. They’re like a cover band that plays the hits of the last 500 years – with whoopie cushions and kazoos! Sit back and relax, but don’t be surprised if you get hit in the head with a bassoon reed. ;This zany program includes many constituent parts: rhythm and melody, performer and audience, reed and bassoon, composer and music. The music features all-original compositions and arrangements written by members of the group, spanning a styles ranging from Renaissance motets to cinematic music to jazz.;The quartet began in 2008 as a project of undergraduate students at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, USA, and they soon developed a busy schedule of performances around the United States. They now have a global social media following: their YouTube channel, which has garnered over a million views, has gotten buzz from such varied sources as NPR, MTV and Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton.;In 2013, they premièred their commissioned concerto, Scott A. Switzer’s Breaking Out for four bassoons and wind ensemble, with the Yale Concert Band. In August 2014, they were featured performers at a gala concert presented by the International Double Reed Society at New York University, performing Switzer’s piece with the West Point Band. ;The quartet’s album, Breaking In, features an eclectic playlist of their favourites.