Bassoon repertoire explained
The bassoon repertoire consists of pieces of music composed for bassoon as a principal instrument that may be performed with or without other instruments. Below is a non-exhaustive list of major works for the bassoon.
Baroque
Classical
- Johann Christian Bach:
- Bassoon Concerto in B
- Bassoon Concerto in E major
- Franz Danzi:
- Bassoon Concerto in G minor,
- Bassoon Concerto in C
- 2 Bassoon Concerto in F major
- 3 Quartets for Bassoon and Strings, Op. 40
- François Devienne:
- 12 Sonatas (six with opus numbers)
- 3 Quartets
- 4 Bassoon Concerti
- 6 Duos Concertants
- Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Grand Concerto for Bassoon (in F)
- Leopold Kozeluch:
- Bassoon Concerto in B major (P V:B1)
- Bassoon Concerto in C major (P V:C1)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
- Bassoon Concerto in B, K. 191, the only surviving of the original three bassoon concertos he wrote
- Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B, K. 292
- Antonio Rosetti:
- Bassoon Concertos in F major (Murray C75)
- Bassoon Concertos in B major (Murray C69, C73, C74)
- Bassoon Concerto in E major (Murray C68)[1]
- Carl Stamitz: Bassoon Concerto in F major
- Johann Baptist Wanhal:
- Bassoon Concerto in C major
- Concerto in F major for two bassoons and orchestra
Romantic
Twentieth century
- Miguel del Aguila:
- Hexen for bassoon and string orchestra
- Hexen for bassoon and piano
- Luciano Berio: Sequenza XII for solo bassoon (1995)
- Pierre Boulez: Dialogue de l'ombre double for bassoon and electronics (originally for clarinet, transcribed for bassoon by the composer – 1995)
- Howard J. Buss: A Day in the City for solo bassoon (1986)
- Time Capsule for oboe and bassoon (1996)
- Desert Odyssey for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1997)
- Peter Maxwell Davies: Strathclyde Concerto no.8 for bassoon and orchestra
- Edison Denisov
- Cinq Etudes for bassoon (1983)
- Sonata for solo bassoon (1982)
- Franco Donatoni: Concerto for bassoon (1952)
- Henri Dutilleux:
- Sarabande et Cortège for bassoon and piano (1942)
- Regards sur l'Infini and Deux sonnets de Jean Cassou for bassoon and piano (originally for voice and piano, transcribed by Pascal Gallois with the composer's approval) (1942/2011 and 1954/2011)
- Alvin Etler: Sonata for bassoon and piano (1951)
- Jean Françaix:
- Quadruple Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1935)
- Divertissement for bassoon and string quintet (or orchestra) (1942)
- Le coq et le renard (The Rooster and the Fox) for 4 bassoons (1963)
- Sept impromptus for flute and bassoon (1977)
- Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1994)
- Two pieces for bassoon and piano (1996)
- Glenn Gould: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1950)
- Sofia Gubaidulina:
- Concerto for bassoon and low strings (1975)
- Duo sonata for two bassoons (1977)
- Mozart Camargo Guarnieri
- Choro for bassoon and orchestra (1991)
- César Guerra-Peixe
- Three pieces for bassoon and piano (1944)
- Duo for clarinet and bassoon (1970)
- Paul Hindemith:
- Sonata for bassoon and piano (1938)
- Four pieces for cello and bassoon (1941)
- Concerto for trumpet, bassoon and orchestra (1949)
- Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, harp and orchestra (1949)
- Bertold Hummel:
- Concertino for bassoon and strings, Op. 27b (1964/1992)
- 5 Epigrams for bassoon solo Op. 51 (1973)
- Divertimento for bassoon and violoncello, Op. 62 (1978)
- Gordon Jacob:
- Concerto for bassoon, strings and percussion
- Four Sketches for bassoon
- Partita for bassoon
- Paul Jeanjean: Prelude and Scherzo for bassoon and piano (1911)
- André Jolivet:
- Lev Knipper: Concerto for bassoon and strings (1969)
- Charles Koechlin:
- Three pieces for bassoon and piano, Op. 18 (1899–1907)
- Sonata for bassoon and piano, Op.71 (1918)
- Silhouettes de comédie, 12 pieces for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 193 (1942–1943)
- György Kurtág: Játékok és üzenetek for solo bassoon (1986–2001)
- Mary Jane Leach: Feu de Joie for solo bassoon and six taped bassoons (1992)
- Anne LeBaron: After a Dammit to Hell for bassoon solo (1982)
- Jef Maes: Burlesque for bassoon and piano (1957)
- Francisco Mignone:
- Concertino for bassoon and orchestra (1957)
- Double Bassoon Sonata no. 1 (1961)
- Sonatina for bassoon (1961)
- Invention for clarinet and bassoon (1961)
- Invention for flute and bassoon (1961)
- Double Bassoon Sonata no. 2 "Ubayera e Ubayara" (1966)
- "Tetrafonia e variações em busca de um tema" for four bassoons (1967)
- "Non nova, sed nove" for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1967)
- Passacaglia for clarinet and bassoon (1968)
- Four symphonies for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1968)
- "Sonata a 3" for three bassoons (1978)
- "3rd Égloga" oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1978)
- 16 valses for bassoon (1979–1981)
- Concertino for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1980)
- Four Brazilian pieces for four bassoons (1983)
- Seresta for bassoon and orchestra (1983)
- Ștefan Niculescu
- Sincronie III for flute, oboe and bassoon (1985)
- "Monophonie", sonata for bassoon (and voice ad libitum) (1989)
- Willson Osborne: Rhapsody for bassoon
- Andrzej Panufnik: Concerto for bassoon and small orchestra (1985)
- Francis Poulenc:
- Sergei Prokofiev: Humoristic Scherzo for four bassoons, Op. 12b (1915)
- Einojuhani Rautavaara: Bassoon Sonata (1970)
- Alan Ridout: Concertino for bassoon and strings (1975)
- Timothy Salter:
- Monopolies for solo bassoon (1995)
- Imprints for bassoon and piano (1997)
- Claudio Santoro:
- Duo for bassoon and piano (1982)
- Fantasia Sul América for solo bassoon (1983)
- Alexander Shchetynsky
- Lento pensieroso for solo bassoon (1994)
- Richard Strauss:
- Lubos Sluka: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1971)
- Stjepan Šulek: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra
- Alexandre Tansman:
- Sonatine for bassoon and piano
- Suite for bassoon and piano
- Heitor Villa-Lobos:
- Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1921)
- Ciranda das sete notas for bassoon and string orchestra (1933)
- Bachianas Brasileiras no. 6 for flute and bassoon
- Fantasia concertante for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1953)
- Duo for oboe and bassoon (1957)
- John Williams: The Five Sacred Trees: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1995)
- Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Suite-concertino for bassoon and chamber orchestra (1933)
- Isang Yun: Monolog for bassoon solo (1983–1984)
- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1992)
Twenty-first century
- Nimrod Borenstein
- Concerto for bassoon and string orchestra opus 56a (2012)
- Ballad for bassoon and piano (2004)
- Behind the Invisible Mask for bassoon and one percussion (2004)
- Bassoonisms for four bassoons (2020)
- Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (2022)
- Concerto for Bassoon for bassoon and piano (2017)
- Contrasts in Blue for oboe, bassoon and piano (2000)
- Emanations for two bassoons and drum set (2016)
- The Enchanted Garden for bassoon and string trio (2016)
- Fables from Aesop for bassoon and violin (2002)
- Four Miniatures for two bassoons (2010)
- The Heavens Awaken for bassoon and string quartet (2008)
- Island of Enchantment for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano (2023)
- Levi's Dream for bassoon quartet (2011)
- Luminous Horizons for bassoon and harp (2016)
- Prelude and Intrada for bassoon quartet or ensemble (2007)
- Spring Reverie for viola, cello and bassoon (2023)
- Trio Lyrique for horn, bassoon and piano (2013)
- Turbulent Times for flute, bassoon and piano
- Village Scenes for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2004)
- Miguel del Aguila:Sunset Song for bassoon and piano; Nostalgica for bassoon and string quartet; Malambo for bassoon and string quartet (also with quintet and string orchestra); Malambo for bassoon and piano; Tango Trio for bassoon clarinet and piano; or bassoon, oboe and piano
- Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble (2002)
- Karel Janovický: ; Duos for violin and bassoon, No 1 (2004), No 2 (2006); Sonata for bassoon and piano (2005); Bassoon Quartet (2013).
- Matt Laing: Of Paradise Lost for bassoon and orchestrahttps://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/work/laing-matthew-of-paradise-lost (2021)
- Libby Larsen: Jazz Variations for Solo Bassoon (1977), Concert Piece for Bassoon and Piano (2008), Full Moon in the City (2013)
- Lior Navok: Ex Silentium for bassoon and piano (2018)
- Robert Paterson: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano[3] (2001); Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano[4] (2006–07)
- Wolfgang Rihm: Psalmus for bassoon and orchestra (2007)
- Ananda Sukarlan: "Communication Breakdown" for flute, bassoon and piano (2017)
- Graham Waterhouse: Basson Quintet (2003); Bright Angel for three bassoons and contrabassoon (2008)
- Patrick Nunn: Gonk for Bassoon and Sound File (2004)
- Shai Cohen: Treatise for Bassoon and diffused electronics (2019)
- Fabio Mengozzi: Vision for English horn, Bassoon and piano (2020)[5]
Works featuring prominent bassoon passages
- Johann Sebastian Bach: many bassoon passages, including: BWV 155 (Du mußt glauben, du mußt hoffen) and BWV 149 (Seid wachsam, Ihr heiligen Wächter).
- Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; the second movement features woodwind instruments in pairs, beginning with the bassoons, and the recapitulation of their duet adds a third instrument playing a staccato counter-melody.
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, fourth movement; Symphony 9 in D minor: fourth movement: --after the 24-measure exposition of the Ode to Joy (Allegro assai), the first bassoon enters with a prominent counter-melody for the next 24 measures; and continues a solo to add emphasis to the theme.
- Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique. In the fourth movement, there are several solo and tutti bassoon passages. This piece calls for four bassoons.
- Georges Bizet: Carmen, Entr'acte to Act II features two bassoons initially in unison to the tune of "Dragons d'Alcala" from the opera.
- Benjamin Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Variation D features the bassoons.
- Emmanuel Chabrier: España, four bassoons in unison play a Spanish tune.
- Frédéric Chopin: "Piano Concerto No. 2 (Chopin)", measures 82, etc. of the Larghetto feature a sublime moment for the bassoon.
- Michael Daugherty: Alligator Alley features bassoon solos at the beginning and lively melody through the whole piece.
- Gaetano Donizetti: Una furtiva lagrima, from the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore, opens with a solo bassoon passage.
- Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, widely recognized as used in the film Fantasia; the main melody is first heard in a famous bassoon solo passage.
- Manuel de Falla: The Three-cornered Hat, where the bassoon represents El corregidor (the magistrate).
- Edvard Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King.
- Georg Friedrich Handel: many bassoon passages: including: "Ariodante": "Scherza infida" (with mournful bassoon obbligato); and "Amadigi": "Pena tiranna."
- Franz Josef Haydn: The Creation: "Holde Gattin"; and Symphony No. 68.
- W A Mozart: many, for example, "Symphony No. 41 (Mozart)", as mentioned above; "Great Mass in C minor, K. 427", in the Et incarnatus est, the bassoon is one of three obligato soloists to accompany the soprano.
- Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition as orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; particularly "Promenade II", "Il Vecchio Castello", and "Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells". A brief solo appears in the second part of "The Hut on the Fowl's Legs: Baba Yaga"
- Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, the main theme of the first movement is introduced by a pair of bassoons.
- Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, the 12th movement, "Olim lacus colueram", opens with a high bassoon solo.
- Krzysztof Penderecki: Symphony no. 4 "Adagio", a long solo passage followed by strings in the background appears in the middle of the symphony.
- Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, the theme of the grandfather; Piano Concerto No.3 in C major Op.26, third movement, bassoon and cellos play the theme in staccato and pizzicato; Violin Concerto No. 1, third movement, a playful theme similar to the main theme gets introduced by the bassoon at the beginning of the movement before the solo violin comes in
- Jean-Philippe Rameau: "Entrée de Polymnie", from the Act IV of his posthumous opera Les Boréades
- Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole, features a fast, lengthy dual cadenza at the end of the first movement; Boléro, the bassoon has a high descending solo passage near the beginning; Piano Concerto in G Major; Piano Concerto in D Major (for the left hand), prominent use of contrabassoon in the opening; Ma mère l'oye a contrabassoon solo in the fourth part; Alborada del gracioso, solo after the theme, a long solo.
- Ottorino Respighi: "Trittico Botticelliano", the second movement, L'Adorazione dei Magi, opens with a bassoon solo which transitions into an oboe/bassoon duet - the bassoon appears solo later in the movement also in a different figure.
- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, second movement: "Tale of the Kalendar Prince"
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Several symphonies including No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7 "Leningrad" first movement, No. 8, and No. 9 (4th to 5th movement, one of the biggest bassoon solos in the symphonic repertoire), No. 10, No. 15.
- Jean Sibelius: Symphony 2 in D minor, second movement opening—bassoons play in octaves; Symphony 5 in E-flat major.
- Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, opens with a famously unorthodox bassoon solo; The Firebird, "Berceuse"; "Infernal Dance" with contrabassoon, horns, trombone, tuba; Pulcinella Suite.
- Silvestre Revueltas
Sensemayá, prominently features a solo bassoon playing an ostinato that represents the syllabic rhythm of the poem on which the piece is based, also named Sensemayá by Nicolás Guillén.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Rosetti Bassoon Concertos — Catalog and Track Listing. Naxos Records. 2003. 7 September 2008. The E concerto is mentioned in the notes to the recording, see the link on the left.
- Web site: Rossini Bassoon Concerto liner notes . Musicweb-international.com . 2019-04-09.
- http://www.robpaterson.com/works-notes/sonata_for_bassoon_and_piano.html Sonata for Bassoon and Piano
- Web site: Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano . 6 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715192827/http://www.robpaterson.com/works-notes/elegy_for_two_bassons_and_piano.html . 15 July 2011 . dead . dmy-all .
- Web site: FABIO MENGOZZI: "Vision" (for English horn, Bassoon and Piano). InvisibileArmonia. 10 September 2020. YouTube.