Par KNUSSEN OLIVER. Study for “Metamorphosis” for solo bassoon was composed by Oliver Knussen in the early 1970s but was withdrawn and later revised by the composer in 2018. Two earlier versions of the piece exist: an incomplete copy of the work’s earliest incarnation – entitled Study in Metamorphosis and dated 1972 – and a revised version from 1973, which uses the current title.   / Instrumental Music / Répertoire / Basson

Bassoon-Metamorphoses after Britten was written for Melinda Maxwell for UYMP's Signals volume of new music for Oboe. It was first performed by Melinda at York University on 24th November 2010.I - A MountainII -FixationIII - FlowersIV - Fountains Metamorphoses after Britten by philipvenables 'Metamorphoses after Britten arejust that: four miniatures each inspired by one of Benjamin Britten’s Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe. Each movement over its short course transforms gradually from one thing to another ending with the exception ofFountains in a short cathartic coda. Some of the movements also take specific musical elements from Britten’s pieces.I very much viewed these pieces as musical Haiku and in that sense I hope they embody a sense ofpeace brevity and simplicity.The oboe version of Metamorphoses after Britten is dedicated to Melinda Maxwell.The saxophone version of Metamorphoses after Britten with an additional movement is dedicated to Vickiand Andrew Vaughan'      - Philip Venables     

Grade 3-This collection of pieces was written for the Trinity Guildhall Examination Board syllabus. It is aimed principally at students of grades 1 to 5 and intended to combine technical challenges with that most vital musical ingredient: fun.Four pieces for bassoon and piano by Graham Sheen.Drunken Sailor - the sequelThis needs a plaintive tone especially in the upper register where the dynamics are particularly important. To capture the mood of the piece those slurs in bars 35 and 36 for example might even be close to a glissando. Use your imagination to recreate the sailor's state of health!The Vulgar BoatmanNot only more 'hidden' melodies but moreappalling puns! (Volga Boatman for those not versed in Russian folksongs). This is like a waltz: it is written in 3/4 time but played so as to give the impression of one beat in bar. The melodies need to be well sustained so that we hear four eight or even more bars as a single phrase. Clues for the musical detective:- in addition to the Volga Boatman you might spot just a hint of 'Sailing down the River on a Sunday Afternoon' 'We Sail the Ocean Blue' (H.M.S. Pinafore) The Eton Boat Song and even Wagner's Flying Dutchman.Last Tango in HarrisEveryone must surely know these thinly disguised Scottish tunes but can you make them sound like a tango? Bear in mind that tangos are not jazz: the rhythm is quite strict but the tango character is in the tone and the phrasing. Notice how expressive the occasional shorter note value can be as in bars 4 and 5 in the bassoon part.Rheumanian StretchesOr was that Rumanian Sketches? This is a chance to play the main melody in two registers of the bassoon. Try to make a good even sound in both octaves. This piece requires careful counting since the phrases in the bassoon part don't always begin where you might expect. Think of this piece as a song.

Patrick Nunn's Gonk for Bassoon with pre-recorded accompaniment.The premiere was given by Alice Lee (bassoon) and Patrick Nunn(electronics) at the David Josefowitz Recital Hall Royal Academy of Music London on the 8th November 2006 as the selected work for the Florence Woodbridge Bassoon Prize.Duration: c. 6 minutes