A plague of bassoons at UNLV

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:29 a.m.

The bassoon ensemble's future seemed indistinct for decades until the emergence in the 1960s of a musical organization that flourished in Boston under the unlikely name of the Bubonic Bassoon Quartet. Known for their unusual style, the four surviving members of the quartet usually appear in monks' robes with incense burning on the floor. The name also inspired their evocative motto: "A Plague on Music."

All four members took turns writing and arranging their now-infamous bassoon quartets, most of which are entertaining and humorous in nature. Their repertoire includes arrangements of jazz and pop music, with the appropriate parts of "Lead" Bassoon, "Screech" Bassoon and "Hot" Bassoon. Another unusual aspect of the group, according to founding member David Carroll, is that they never designated a first, second, third or fourth bassoonist. Instead, they drew their parts face down, sometimes even for concerts. There were exceptions. Anyone who composed or arranged a particularly difficult first bassoon part had to play it himself if the person who drew it didn't want to.

The Bubonic Plague Quartet has had a considerable underground reputation in the New England area, due to a long series of April Fool's Day concert broadcasts on WGBH-FM in Boston. They also are probably responsible for the existence of similar groups, such as the Buddhist Bassoon Quartet and the Boulder Bassoon Band.

The Bright Light City Bassoons are pleased to bring this 36-year-old tradition to LAs Vegas. For more information, call Janice McKay at 895-3929.