Basson Et Piano - Lm010-French composer and student of Darius Milhaud Pierre-Max Dubois was born on March 1st 1930. Although not as popular as his teacher he was well respected and continued the musical ideas of Les Six of which Milhaud was of course a member into the second half of the twentieth century even winning the Prix de Rome in 1955. Dubois' music is a lot like that of Milhauds light hearted harmonic melodical and texturally unusual. Many of his works are for woodwind especially saxophone such as his Quartet for Saxophone in F which was premiered in 1962 or the Pieces characteristiques en forme de suite for alto saxophone and piano accompaniment.

Timeless Cornish Melodies Cooked Up For Hungry Brass Players-As I sit myself down to write this brief foreword I ask myself can there be music more stirring than these old Cornish folk melodies? Though not Cornish myself (I confess to being born a little further up the road in Bristol) I feel I have spent sufficient time in these 'ere parts to resonate with the sturdy brass band tradition that continues to permeate this incomparably beautiful rugged county. One can almost detect a French 'accent' when listening to the piano music of Debussy and likewise speaking as a lapsed brass player there is undoubtedly something of the Cornish twang about Trelawny when played on a cornet or euphonium. Then again one gets a different yet entirely convincing effect upon hearing these melodies rendered on woodwind instruments; hence with a little gamesmanship on my part I am pleased to see my collection of these fifteen delectable ditties come to fruition in the form of arrangements for treble clef brass instruments (in B flat and E flat) trombone and tuba (bass clef) horn in F flute clarinet and bassoon.While many will find themselves humming the likes of Going up Camborne Hill Lamorna or The Helston Furry Dance even before they have turned to the first page - for these are indelibly intertwined with Cornish culture - I wonder if I might draw your attention to The Cornish Squire The Pool of Pilate and Cold Blows the Wind Today Sweetheart which are quite simply sublime melodies perhaps needing that extra bit of help in bringing them to mind nowadays. In the best tradition of musical hand-me-downs Cornish folk music works equally ideally sung and played and only by doing so on a regular basis can such traditions hope to continue forward with vigour and authority. A legitimate way of achieving this is to revitalise the harmonic scheme of these ancient tunes and bring them up to date for a modern audience; after all it was such an approach that fuelled the imagination of Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams in decades past while skilfully paying homage to the

Bassoon and Piano-Sunset Song op.42 for bassoon and piano was written and premiered in 1994 at the Los Angeles Museum of Art Bing Theatre. It is the composer´s second large work featuring the bassoon as soloist (after Hexen) and like Hexen it isalso dedicated to bassoonist Judith Farmer who premiered it with the composer at the piano.Sunset Song is technically a tour de force for both the bassoon and the piano. It is happy sensuous obsessive and at times mocking - often reflecting the time in which it was written and the events of a Mexico tour that followed the firstperformance during which the piece underwent revisions. The piece starts with an introduction played by the bassoon almost entirely. This introduction uses elements of 1950s pop music. A middle section follows where a static -almost MiddleEastern- ostinato rhythmic pattern beats with increasing tension. This pattern is then transformed to a Latin beat which finally returns the piece to the opening mood. The bassoon ends the piece in an irreverent tone with a pitch written two octavesabove the official limit of the instrumentâ??s register. The title Sunset Song was inspired by Californiaâ??s sunsets and the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean.

Part of the collection 'Nine pieces' for Bassoon and Piano regrouped and transcribed by Fernand Oubradous  Pièce is a work initially composed by Gabriel Fauré. Quite difficult it would match the skills and abilities of advanced players. This sensitive piece for Bassoon in E flat is quite melodious: the main theme introduced by the Piano is repeated by the Bassoon who will lead the music from that moment. Written 'Adagio molto tranquillo' it is quite slow and nice to listen to. It would be perfect to execute in a recital. Gabriel Fauré was a French Composer Organist Pianist and teacher. He is one of the most important composers of his generation with pieces such as 'Pavane' or 'Requiem'.

As the title suggests this Sonatine by Alexandre Tchérepnin attempts to adapt the music to the surprise elements of sports. The Pianist in the first movement is portrayed as being 'defensive' while the Bassoon soloist is considered to be attacking the Piano much like Boxing. Movement two named Half-Time represents the rest that two players would be taking in the midst of a competition. Finally movement three - Race is in the form of a canon. The Bassoonist leads the race while the Pianist gradually closes the gap.

Mr Sheen's Miscellany For Bassoon 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.Mr Sheen's Miscellany For Bassoon - Grade 1 contains three pieces for bassoon and piano by Graham Sheen.Polka-dots.There are three contrasting types of expression for the bassoonist here. The opening phrase is staccato which is followed (at bar 11) by a sustained counter melody. Finally (at bar 19) both these effects are combined in a second melody which needs very clear dynamicplaying.Monkey Puzzle.Sustaining the sound while re-articulating the notes is important in this piece. In other words the opening should be played almost slurred. Be aware of the changing harmonies underneath the held notes in the bassoon part.Serious Song.Long but separate notes contrast with real legato. The main theme is marked tenuto so full value for each note especially ending notes. Even the quavers aren't very short at this speed. Try to make the richest sound you can like for example a fine Russian baritone.

After the Oboe and Clarinet sonata the Bassoon sonata forms the conclusion of the wind compositions from Saint-Saens due to his death in 1921 - the also planned Sonata for English Horn never to be composed.Playing thehumorous not too technically demanding work you can hardly imagine that the composer did not feel particularly familiar on this instrument.