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.

This first volume of Bassoon Solos includes nine solos with Piano accompaniment edited by William Waterhouse. Suitable for intermediate players. Contents include Three Easy Pieces No.1 (Milde) Minuet From Quartet For Bassoon And Strings Op.1 No.6 (Ritter) Scherzo - Kolomyjka (Vojacek) Three Easy Pieces No.3 (Milde) Three Easy Pieces No.2 (Milde) Minuetto Giocoso (FranzJoseph Haydn) Bruit De Chasse (Corrette) Vivace And Largo Poco Andante - Sonata In E Minor Op.3 No. 3 (Michel Blavet) and Trois Sonates (Anton Diabelli).  

Bassoon solos with piano accompaniment edited by William Waterhouse. Suitable for intermediate players.

Work for Bassoon and Piano. The Enchantress Plays was commissioned by the Park Lane Group for the PLG Young Artists Series. It was first performed on 8th January 1991 at the Purcell Room London. Duration 8 minutes. Suitable for advanced players.