Bassoon

 

 

The bassoon is a member of the regular woodwind section of the orchestra. Concertos for this "grumpy" instrument have always been rare, the best known examples dating back to the baroque and classical/early romantic periods (Vivaldi, Mozart, Hummel, Weber). The general revival of concertos in the 20th century has bypassed this instrument to a large extent, with very few composers of name trying their hand on it. The best known more recent bassoon concertos are probably by Sofia Gubaidulina, Kalevi Aho and Peter Maxwell Davies. I have selected the 1947 concerto by English composer Gordon Jacob, in the version by John Downey with the London Symphony Orchestra under Geoffrey Simon on Chandos.