Bassoon Variations by Charles Wuorinen Charles Wuorinen's Bassoon Variations for solo bassoon accompanied by harp and timpani was composed in 1972. It is published by C.F. Peters and has been recorded by Donald MacCourt on New World Records. Unfortunately, the recording is currently out of print. All three instrumental parts are technically difficult in many places, and the ensemble demands are challenging. Bassoon Variations is an atonal work which incorporates serial techniques, and it is not lyrical in a traditional manner.
Rhythmic interest is achieved through a variety of note values rather than through tempo changes.
The rhythms are complex, especially in the large central portion of the work. The beginning and ending sections are similar and are relatively static rhythmically. In both of these sections, the timpani and harp at times play the same series of pitch classes in long note values, but the beginnings of the notes do not occur together. Similar effects are found through m. 12 in the opening section and in mm. 141-149 in the closing portion.