Bassoon repertoire

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

A collection of historical bassoons, from early baroque to modern, including a classical contrabassoon.

• Johann Friedrich Fasch: Several bassoon concerti; the best known is in C major
• Christoph Graupner: Four bassoon concerti
• Johann Wilhelm Hertel: Bassoon Concerto in A minor
• Michel Corrette: Concerto for 4 bassoons and continuo 'Le Phenix'
• Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata in F minor
• Antonio Vivaldi: 39 concerti for bassoon, 37 of which exist in their entirety today
• Jan Dismas Zelenka: Six trio sonatas for two oboes (or oboe/violin), bassoon and basso continuo

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

• Franz Berwald: Konzertstück
• Ferdinand David: Concertino for bassoon and orchestra, op. 12
• Edward Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, op. 62
• Johann Nepomuk Fuchs: Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major
• Julius Fučík: Der alte Brummbär ("The Old Grumbler") for bassoon and orchestra, op. 210
• Reinhold Glière: Humoresque and Impromptu for Bassoon and Piano, op. 35, nos. 8 and 9
• Gioachino Rossini: Bassoon Concerto (attributed to Rossini, authenticity questionable) ^[2]
• Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata for bassoon and piano in G major, op. 168
• Carl Maria von Weber:
  • Andante e rondo ungarese in C minor, op. 35b
  • Bassoon Concerto in F, op. 75

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:
  • Concerto for bassoon, strings, harp and piano (1954)
  • Pastorales de Noël for flute, bassoon and harp (1943)
• 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:
  • Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1926)
  • Sonata for clarinet and bassoon (1922)
• 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:
  • Duett-Concertino in F major for clarinet and bassoon with string orchestra and harp, TRV 293, AV 147 (1947)
  • Der Zweikampf in B♭ major, polonaise for flute, bassoon and orchestra, TRV 133, AV 82 (1884)
• 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)
• Howard J. Buss
  • Aquarius for 3 bassoons (2013)
  • 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)
• Gala Flagello
  • Mother Time, Father Nature for bassoon and piano (2021)
  • Enough for bassoon, violin, piano, and percussion (2018)
• 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 orchestra (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.
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4 in F minor, Symphony 5 in E minor, Symphony 6 in B minor.
• Giuseppe Verdi  : La donna è mobile , from the opera Rigoletto , bassoon plays the theme on the end of the aria; Messa da Requiem , 1st bassoon has an extended passage which begins solo but then accompanies the soprano, mezzo and tenor in the Quid sum miser section of the Dies Irae.

See also

• Bassoon concerto
• Bassoon sonata

References

1. "Rosetti Bassoon Concertos — Catalog and Track Listing". Naxos Records. 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2008. The E♭ concerto is mentioned in the notes to the recording, see the link on the left.
2. "Rossini Bassoon Concerto liner notes". Musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
3. Sonata for Bassoon and Piano Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
5. InvisibileArmonia (10 September 2020). "FABIO MENGOZZI: "Vision" (for English horn, Bassoon and Piano)" – via YouTube.