SKU: ST.C389

ISBN 9790570813896.

An Album of Twenty French Songs arranged for Bassoon and Piano by Martin Gatt

Fauréâ??s poignant love song Après un rêve exists in many different transcriptions for various instruments (the most famous version perhaps being the one for cello and piano that Pablo Casals made in 1910), and provides the initial inspiration for this album of French songs transcribed for bassoon and piano. The bassoon is capable of a broad range of timbres and expression, and it is the lyrical, vocal quality of the instrument that Martin Gatt has always been attracted to. In both his performance and teaching, his emphasis is on the importance of what he calls â??vocalisingâ?? through the bassoon, and for him, music for the voice â?? especially art songs of the 19th and 20th centuries â?? has been a rich source of material for exploring the expressive tonal colours of the bassoon.

The treasure trove of French art song from composers ranging from Claude Arrieu to Louis Vierne, not to mention the greats like Berlioz or Debussy or Ravel, has made the task of choosing which songs to include in this album a difficult one. In the end, Martin has settled on eight composers who have produced some of the most appealing music in the genre â?? Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), Georges Bizet (1838-1875), Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894), Jules Massenet (1842-1912), Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), Henri Duparc (1848-1933), Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944), and Francis Poulenc (1899-1963). Rather than grouping by composer, the songs are set out in a way that contrasts different emotional worlds and sentiments, from the vibrant exuberance of Chabrierâ??s Lâ??île heureuse to the gentle melancholy of Poulencâ??s Mais mourir. These â??songs without wordsâ? for the bassoon, clearly demonstrate the instrumentâ??s cantabile qualities, varied nuances, and wide-ranging emotional possibilities.

SKU: HL.14020992

ISBN 9780711936805. 9.0x12.0x0.185 inches.

Unusually for him, Davies starts his Bassoon Concerto not with slow music but with speed and brilliance: the opening is a Presto, initiated by the strings, and only at the entry of the soloist does the tempo relax to that of a real introduction. Out of this grow a big dancing Allegro. The slow movement begins and ends with a simple song, around fantastical ornamentation from the soloist. The finale is again a recitative and dance, with a slow coda. The whole work is an immense show of stamina, poetry and athleticism for the bassoon, set against an orchestra coloured by low wind (alto flute, clarinet in A, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, horns). Bassoon part with piano reduction of the orchestral score.

SKU: VD.ED88612

ISBN 9790202096123. 12 x 9 inches.

SKU: VD.ED88652

ISBN 9790202096529. 12 x 9 inches.

SKU: VD.ED88642

ISBN 9790202096420. 12 x 9 inches.

SKU: HL.48181173

UPC: 888680861698. 9.0x12.0x0.058 inches.

To this day, Eugene Bozza (1905-1991) remains one of the most prolific composers for wind instruments, despite being a violinist himself. His Fantasy for bassoon and piano is no exception to the composer's success. During his studies at the Paris Conservatoire, Bozza won prizes for violin, conducting and composition, as well as the Grand Prix de Rome. He then conducted the orchestra of the Opera-Comique and became Head of the Conservatoire in Valenciennes, whilst remaining a prominent composer. Composed in 1945, Bozza's Fantasy for bassoon and piano is a virtuosic work, addressing advanced features including complex rhythms, chromaticism, a wide range and articulation. As music educationalist, Paul Griffiths has written of Bozza's compositions, his works reveal melodic fluency, elegance of structure and a consistently sensitive concern of instrumental capabilities..

SKU: HL.48187803

UPC: 888680873622. 9.0x12.0x0.125 inches. French.

“André Jolivet (1905-1974) established his love for composition from a young age. This remained throughout his life, and he held the post of Professor of Composition from 1966-1970 at Paris Conservatoire. Concerto for Bassoon was composed in 1954, and remains highly regarded. Jolivet, himself a cellist, wished to explore composition for all instruments, and therefore has a considerable number of works in all fields. The composer's style is also known for its spirituality, and the desire to associate the everyday with the magical, and the human with the universal. Jolivet draws on acoustics and atonality, as heard in his Concerto for Bassoon. The piece requires high, virtuosic skills due to its expansive use of extended techniques. For all advanced bassoonists, Jolivet provides an exciting, alternative piece for the instrument's repertoire.”.

SKU: HL.48182792

UPC: 888680872045. 9.0x12.0x0.092 inches.

T. Procaccini: 3 Pieces (Bassoon & Piano).