for Bassoon and Piano-Gabriel Grovlez (1879-1944) studied under Gabriel Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire. His compositions proved to be extremely versatile from Operas and Ballets to solo works. Grovlez's Sicilienne Et Allegro Giocoso is a sublime addition to the Bassoon repertoire. Much of the composer's works show neo-classical features which is also the case inSicilienne Et Allegro Giocoso where the texture is predominantly melody dominated homophony cadences are frequently heard and modulations to related keys occur despite tonality being interestingly exploited.Grovlez's C minor Sicilienne is unusual in style as it is composed in common time yet the triplets and sextuplets in the Bassoon part provide the 'tarantella feel' required of the musical genre. This is superbly contrasted by the quirky Allegro Giocoso (fast and cheerful) composed in the relative major. All these features make for an enjoyable and delightful performance!

Gabriel Pierné (1863-1937) was a French composer conductor and organist. Despite being predominantly remembered as a conductor his Solo De Concert remains a recognised piece in the Bassoon repertoire. Pierné studied at the Paris Conservatoire before taking up the position of chief conductor for the concert series Concerts Colonne in 1910. He remained in the post until 1933 and during this time he notably conducted the world premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird. Pierné composed for a variety of instruments Concert Solo for Bassoon being one offour solo works by the composer. This Pierné piece for Bassoon contains many characteristics typical of the French style such as significant tempo changes and performance directions flourishes of semiquavers chromaticism and many alterations in dynamics. Concert Solo is a varied piece essential to the repertoire of aspiring bassoonists.