# Bassoon repertoire

The bassoon repertoire consists of pieces of music composed for bassoon as a principal instrument that may be performed with or without other instruments. Below is a non-exhaustive list of major works for the bassoon.

## Baroque

* Johann Friedrich Fasch: Several bassoon concerti; the best known is in C major
* Christoph Graupner: Four bassoon concerti
* Johann Wilhelm Hertel: Bassoon Concerto in A minor
* Michel Corrette: Concerto for 4 bassoons and continuo 'Le Phenix'
* Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata in F minor
* Antonio Vivaldi: 39 concerti for bassoon, 37 of which exist in their entirety today
* Jan Dismas Zelenka: Six trio sonatas for two oboes (or oboe/violin), bassoon and basso continuo

## Classical

* Johann Christian Bach:
** Bassoon Concerto in B♭
** Bassoon Concerto in E♭ major
* Franz Danzi:
** Bassoon Concerto in G minor,
** Bassoon Concerto in C
** 2 Bassoon Concerto in F major
** 3 Quartets for Bassoon and Strings, Op. 40
* François Devienne:
** 12 Sonatas (six with opus numbers)
** 3 Quartets
** 4 Bassoon Concerti
** 6 Duos Concertants
* Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Grand Concerto for Bassoon (in F)
* Leopold Kozeluch:
** Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major (P V:B1)
** Bassoon Concerto in C major (P V:C1)
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
** Bassoon Concerto in B♭, K. 191, the only surviving of the original three bassoon concertos he wrote
** Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B♭, K. 292
* Antonio Rosetti:
** Bassoon Concertos in F major (Murray C75)
** Bassoon Concertos in B♭ major (Murray C69, C73, C74)
** Bassoon Concerto in E♭ major (Murray C68)
* Carl Stamitz: Bassoon Concerto in F major
* Johann Baptist Wanhal:
** Bassoon Concerto in C major
** Concerto in F major for two bassoons and orchestra

## Romantic

* Franz Berwald: Konzertstück
* Ferdinand David: Concertino for bassoon and orchestra, op. 12
* Edward Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, op. 62
* Johann Nepomuk Fuchs: Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major
* Julius Fučík: Der alte Brummbär ("The Old Grumbler") for bassoon and orchestra, op. 210
* Reinhold Glière: Humoresque and Impromptu for Bassoon and Piano, op. 35, nos. 8 and 9
* Gioachino Rossini: Bassoon Concerto (attributed to Rossini, authenticity questionable)
* Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata for bassoon and piano in G major, op. 168
* Carl Maria von Weber:
** Andante e rondo ungarese in C minor, op. 35b
** Bassoon Concerto in F, op. 75

## Twentieth century

* Miguel del Aguila:
** Hexen for bassoon and string orchestra
** Hexen for bassoon and piano
* Luciano Berio: Sequenza XII for solo bassoon (1995)
* Pierre Boulez: Dialogue de l'ombre double for bassoon and electronics (originally for clarinet, transcribed for bassoon by the composer – 1995)
* Howard J. Buss: A Day in the City for solo bassoon (1986)
** Time Capsule for oboe and bassoon (1996)
** Desert Odyssey for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1997)
* Peter Maxwell Davies: Strathclyde Concerto no.8 for bassoon and orchestra
* Edison Denisov
** Cinq Etudes for bassoon (1983)
** Sonata for solo bassoon (1982)
* Franco Donatoni: Concerto for bassoon (1952)
* Henri Dutilleux:
** Sarabande et Cortège for bassoon and piano (1942)
** Regards sur l'Infini and Deux sonnets de Jean Cassou for bassoon and piano (originally for voice and piano, transcribed by Pascal Gallois with the composer's approval) (1942/2011 and 1954/2011)
* Alvin Etler: Sonata for bassoon and piano (1951)
* Jean Françaix:
** Quadruple Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1935)
** Divertissement for bassoon and string quintet (or orchestra) (1942)
** Le coq et le renard (The Rooster and the Fox) for 4 bassoons (1963)
** Sept impromptus for flute and bassoon (1977)
** Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1994)
** Two pieces for bassoon and piano (1996)
* Glenn Gould: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1950)
* Sofia Gubaidulina:
** Concerto for bassoon and low strings (1975)
** Duo sonata for two bassoons (1977)
* Mozart Camargo Guarnieri:
** Choro for bassoon and orchestra (1991)
* César Guerra-Peixe
** Three pieces for bassoon and piano (1944)
** Duo for clarinet and bassoon (1970)
* Paul Hindemith:
** Sonata for bassoon and piano (1938)
** Four pieces for cello and bassoon (1941)
** Concerto for trumpet, bassoon and orchestra (1949)
** Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, harp and orchestra (1949)
* Bertold Hummel:
** Concertino for bassoon and strings, Op. 27b (1964/1992)
** 5 Epigrams for bassoon solo Op. 51 (1973)
** Divertimento for bassoon and violoncello, Op. 62 (1978)
* Gordon Jacob:
** Concerto for bassoon, strings and percussion
** Four Sketches for bassoon
** Partita for bassoon
* Paul Jeanjean: Prelude and Scherzo for bassoon and piano (1911)
* André Jolivet:
** Concerto for bassoon, strings, harp and piano (1954)
** Pastorales de Noël for flute, bassoon and harp (1943)
* Lev Knipper: Concerto for bassoon and strings (1969)
* Charles Koechlin:
** Three pieces for bassoon and piano, Op. 18 (1899–1907)
** Sonata for bassoon and piano, Op.71 (1918)
** Silhouettes de comédie, 12 pieces for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 193 (1942–1943)
* György Kurtág: Játékok és üzenetek for solo bassoon (1986–2001)
* Mary Jane Leach: Feu de Joie for solo bassoon and six taped bassoons (1992)
* Anne LeBaron: After a Dammit to Hell for bassoon solo (1982)
* Jef Maes: Burlesque for bassoon and piano (1957)
* Francisco Mignone:
** Concertino for bassoon and orchestra (1957)
** Double Bassoon Sonata no. 1 (1961)
** Sonatina for bassoon (1961)
** Invention for clarinet and bassoon (1961)
** Invention for flute and bassoon (1961)
** Double Bassoon Sonata no. 2 "Ubayera e Ubayara" (1966)
** "Tetrafonia e variações em busca de um tema" for four bassoons (1967)
** "Non nova, sed nove" for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1967)
** Passacaglia for clarinet and bassoon (1968)
** Four symphonies for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1968)
** "Sonata a 3" for three bassoons (1978)
** "3rd Égloga" oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1978)
** 16 valses for bassoon (1979–1981)
** Concertino for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1980)
** Four Brazilian pieces for four bassoons (1983)
** Seresta for bassoon and orchestra (1983)
* Ștefan Niculescu
** Sincronie III for flute, oboe and bassoon (1985)
** "Monophonie", sonata for bassoon (and voice ad libitum) (1989)
* Willson Osborne: Rhapsody for bassoon
* Andrzej Panufnik: Concerto for bassoon and small orchestra (1985)
* Francis Poulenc:
** Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1926)
** Sonata for clarinet and bassoon (1922)
* Sergei Prokofiev: Humoristic Scherzo for four bassoons, Op. 12b (1915)
* Einojuhani Rautavaara: Bassoon Sonata (1970)
* Alan Ridout: Concertino for bassoon and strings (1975)
* Timothy Salter:
** Monopolies for solo bassoon (1995)
** Imprints for bassoon and piano (1997)
* Claudio Santoro:
** Duo for bassoon and piano (1982)
** Fantasia Sul América for solo bassoon (1983)
* Alexander Shchetynsky
** Lento pensieroso for solo bassoon (1994)
* Richard Strauss:
** Duett-Concertino in F major for clarinet and bassoon with string orchestra and harp, TRV 293, AV 147 (1947)
** Der Zweikampf in B♭ major, polonaise for flute, bassoon and orchestra, TRV 133, AV 82 (1884)
* Lubos Sluka: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1971)
* Stjepan Šulek: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra
* Alexandre Tansman:
** Sonatine for bassoon and piano
** Suite for bassoon and piano
* Heitor Villa-Lobos:
** Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1921)
** Ciranda das sete notas for bassoon and string orchestra (1933)
** Bachianas Brasileiras no. 6 for flute and bassoon
** Fantasia concertante for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1953)
** Duo for oboe and bassoon (1957)
* John Williams: The Five Sacred Trees: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1995)
* Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Suite-concertino for bassoon and chamber orchestra (1933)
* Isang Yun: Monolog for bassoon solo (1983–1984)
* Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1992)

## Twenty-first century

* Nimrod Borenstein
** Concerto for bassoon and string orchestra opus 56a (2012)
* Howard J. Buss
** Aquarius for 3 bassoons (2013)
** Ballad for bassoon and piano (2004)
** Behind the Invisible Mask for bassoon and one percussion (2004)
** Bassoonisms for four bassoons (2020)
** Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (2022)
** Concerto for Bassoon for bassoon and piano (2017)
** Contrasts in Blue for oboe, bassoon and piano (2000)
** Emanations for two bassoons and drum set (2016)
** The Enchanted Garden for bassoon and string trio (2016)
** Fables from Aesop for bassoon and violin (2002)
** Four Miniatures for two bassoons (2010)
** The Heavens Awaken for bassoon and string quartet (2008)
** Island of Enchantment for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano (2023)
** Levi's Dream for bassoon quartet (2011)
** Luminous Horizons for bassoon and harp (2016)
** Prelude and Intrada for bassoon quartet or ensemble (2007)
** Spring Reverie for viola, cello and bassoon (2023)
** Trio Lyrique for horn, bassoon and piano (2013)
** Turbulent Times for flute, bassoon and piano
** Village Scenes for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2004)
* Miguel del Aguila:Sunset Song for bassoon and piano; Nostalgica for bassoon and string quartet; Malambo for bassoon and string quartet (also with quintet and string orchestra); Malambo for bassoon and piano; Tango Trio for bassoon clarinet and piano; or bassoon, oboe and piano
* Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble (2002)
* Karel Janovický: ; Duos for violin and bassoon, No 1 (2004), No 2 (2006); Sonata for bassoon and piano (2005); Bassoon Quartet (2013).
* Matt Laing: Of Paradise Lost for bassoon and orchestra (2021)
* Libby Larsen: Jazz Variations for Solo Bassoon (1977), Concert Piece for Bassoon and Piano (2008), Full Moon in the City (2013)
* Lior Navok: Ex Silentium for bassoon and piano (2018)
* Robert Paterson: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (2001); Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano (2006–07)
* Wolfgang Rihm: Psalmus for bassoon and orchestra (2007)
* Ananda Sukarlan: "Communication Breakdown" for flute, bassoon and piano (2017)
* Graham Waterhouse: Basson Quintet (2003); Bright Angel for three bassoons and contrabassoon (2008)
* Patrick Nunn: Gonk for Bassoon and Sound File (2004)
* Shai Cohen: Treatise for Bassoon and diffused electronics (2019)
* Fabio Mengozzi: Vision for English horn, Bassoon and piano (2020)

## Works featuring prominent bassoon passages

* Johann Sebastian Bach: many bassoon passages, including: BWV 155 (Du mußt glauben, du mußt hoffen) and BWV 149 (Seid wachsam, Ihr heiligen Wächter).
* Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; the second movement features woodwind instruments in pairs, beginning with the bassoons, and the recapitulation of their duet adds a third instrument playing a staccato counter-melody.
* Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, fourth movement; Symphony 9 in D minor: fourth movement: --after the 24-measure exposition of the Ode to Joy (Allegro assai), the first bassoon enters with a prominent counter-melody for the next 24 measures; and continues a solo to add emphasis to the theme.
* Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique. In the fourth movement, there are several solo and tutti bassoon passages. This piece calls for four bassoons.
* Georges Bizet: Carmen, Entr'acte to Act II features two bassoons initially in unison to the tune of "Dragons d'Alcala" from the opera.
* Benjamin Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Variation D features the bassoons.
* Emmanuel Chabrier: España, four bassoons in unison play a Spanish tune.
* Frédéric Chopin: "Piano Concerto No. 2 (Chopin)", measures 82, etc. of the Larghetto feature a sublime moment for the bassoon.
* Michael Daugherty: Alligator Alley features bassoon solos at the beginning and lively melody through the whole piece.
* Gaetano Donizetti: Una furtiva lagrima, from the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore, opens with a solo bassoon passage.
* Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, widely recognized as used in the film Fantasia; the main melody is first heard in a famous bassoon solo passage.
* Manuel de Falla: The Three-cornered Hat, where the bassoon represents El corregidor (the magistrate).
* Edvard Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King.
* Georg Friedrich Handel: many bassoon passages: including: "Ariodante": "Scherza infida" (with mournful bassoon obbligato); and "Amadigi": "Pena tiranna."
* Franz Josef Haydn: The Creation: "Holde Gattin"; and Symphony No. 68.
* W A Mozart: many, for example, "Symphony No. 41 (Mozart)", as mentioned above; "Great Mass in C minor, K. 427", in the Et incarnatus est, the bassoon is one of three obligato soloists to accompany the soprano.
* Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition as orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; particularly "Promenade II", "Il Vecchio Castello", and "Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells". A brief solo appears in the second part of "The Hut on the Fowl's Legs: Baba Yaga"
* Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, the main theme of the first movement is introduced by a pair of bassoons.
* Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, the 12th movement, "Olim lacus colueram", opens with a high bassoon solo.
* Krzysztof Penderecki: Symphony no. 4 "Adagio", a long solo passage followed by strings in the background appears in the middle of the symphony.
* Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, the theme of the grandfather; Piano Concerto No.3 in C major Op.26, third movement, bassoon and cellos play the theme in staccato and pizzicato; Violin Concerto No. 1, third movement, a playful theme similar to the main theme gets introduced by the bassoon at the beginning of the movement before the solo violin comes in
* Jean-Philippe Rameau: "Entrée de Polymnie", from the Act IV of his posthumous opera Les Boréades
* Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole, features a fast, lengthy dual cadenza at the end of the first movement; Boléro, the bassoon has a high descending solo passage near the beginning; Piano Concerto in G Major; Piano Concerto in D Major (for the left hand), prominent use of contrabassoon in the opening; Ma mère l'oye a contrabassoon solo in the fourth part; Alborada del gracioso, solo after the theme, a long solo.
* Ottorino Respighi: "Trittico Botticelliano", the second movement, L'Adorazione dei Magi, opens with a bassoon solo which transitions into an oboe/bassoon duet - the bassoon appears solo later in the movement also in a different figure.
* Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, second movement: "Tale of the Kalendar Prince"
* Dmitri Shostakovich: Several symphonies including No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7 "Leningrad" first movement, No. 8, and No. 9 (4th to 5th movement, one of the biggest bassoon solos in the symphonic repertoire), No. 10, No. 15.
* Jean Sibelius: Symphony 2 in D minor, second movement opening—bassoons play in octaves; Symphony 5 in E-flat major.
* Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, opens with a famously unorthodox bassoon solo; The Firebird, "Berceuse"; "Infernal Dance" with contrabassoon, horns, trombone, tuba; Pulcinella Suite.
* Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemayá, prominently features a solo bassoon playing an ostinato that represents the syllabic rhythm of the poem on which the piece is based, also named Sensemayá by Nicolás Guillén.
* Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4 in F minor, Symphony 5 in E minor, Symphony 6 in B minor.
* Giuseppe Verdi : La donna è mobile, from the opera Rigoletto, bassoon plays the theme on the end of the aria; Messa da Requiem, 1st bassoon has an extended passage which begins solo but then accompanies the soprano, mezzo and tenor in the Quid sum miser section of the Dies Irae.