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Read Vt. Philharmonic Plays Sunday: 'Clown of the Orchestra' Shows Off at Chandler by Sandy Cooch, The Randolph Herald.
Read a l letter from Ruth-Angela Fears, April 27, 2005 ("Concerto for Bassoon and Strings" performance notes and questions)
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the first movement of this work performed by Janet Polk, bassoon and the Concord Community Music School String Quartet.
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the second movement of this work
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the third movement of this work
Download an MP3 file of the first movement of this work performed by Janet Polk, bassoon and the Concord Community Music School String Quartet.
Download an MP3 file of the second movement of this work.
Download an MP3 file of the third movement of this work.
Download an MP3 file of the first movement of this work performed by John Friedeman, bassoon and the San Marcos Symphony, Jack Herriman, conductor.
Download an MP3 file of the second movement of this work.
Download an MP3 file of the third movement of this work.
Download an MP3 file of the third movement of this work performed by John Gibson, bassoon and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Myron Turner, conductor.
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the first movement of this work performed by Jonna Goulding, bassoon and the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra, Louis Kosma, conductor.
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the second movement of this work
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of the third movement of this work
Download an a MP3 file of the third movement of this work (piano version) performed by Susan Hess, bassoon and Sandy Mauchley, piano.
View/download a perusal PDF file of the full score of this orchestral work.
View/download a PDF file of selected sample pages from the solo bassoon part of this work.
The three movements of the Concerto for Bassoon and Strings focus on three distinct sets of characteristics often associated with the Bassoon: bouncy & light; lyrical & expressive; rhythmic & assertive.
The first movement, "A Light Touch," is marked "with a joyous lilt." The bassoon enters, bouncing down the scale, and then jumping back up the octave. This diatonic theme is contrasted with sections that carry the tonal center far from the original D Minor, into the A Flat regions. The contrasting sections bring some dissonance and syncopation against the theme. But, all resolves quickly at the end. This movement is a rondo in form.
"A Moment of Peace" is established through slowly unfolding chords and lines. After introductory patterns in the strings, the bassoon initiates a melody with the simple, stepwise motif of E-F-E-D (within a C Major-A Minor tonality). The delicacy of this theme is created through mordents, grace notes and other forms of ornamentation. This movement is structured as a theme and variations which rarely stray far from the home tonality, yet cover a wide range of dynamics, tempi and mood. The expressive high range of the bassoon is explored particularly in the closing section.
"In Motion" can best be described as a "driven rondo-with-cadenza." The pace of this movement is relentless, with the bassoon as the most active player. A restlessness is felt with the shifting tonal centers of each new statement of the theme. The harmonic structures are spare, and the style is forceful. This is energetic music.
Concerto for Bassoon and Strings was composed especially for bassoonist Janet Polk of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The composer has enjoyed her collaborations with Ms. Polk in the past, and wished to create something special to further the musical dialogue!
Notes by the composer