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 thatof 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 pianoreduction of the orchestral score.

Par ELIAS BRIAN. Capriccio for Bassoon and Strings was commissioned by Music at Malling. The first performance was given on 24 September 2021 in St. Mary’s Church, West Malling, Kent, by Adam MacKenzie (bassoon) and Chamber Domaine, conducted by Thomas Kemp. / Date parution : 2022-02-03/ Répertoire / Basson et Piano