The programme on this new recording spans nearly 400 years, and brilliantly showcases the many colours and moods that the bassoon is ideally suited to creating. The music ranges from the early Baroque sonata of Böddecker, dating from 1651, through to Saint-Saëns’s witty, elegant late sonata (1921) and Hagen’s remarkable Harlem Nocturne from 1939, featuring the innovative and brilliant combination of Hammond organ, drums, guitar and bassoon!
Gubaidulina’s Duo Sonata of 1977, Piazolla’s Café 1930 and Dubois’s Sonatine Tango of 1984 provide dazzling and contrasting 20th century flavours, as does the splendid Trio for flute, bassoon and piano by Chick Corea, which appeared on his 1970s album Inner Space.
Bram van Sambeek secured the collaboration of the best Dutch instrumentalists, among which guitarist Izhar Elias, flutist Marieke Schneemann and pianist Ellen Corver. This album is an audio kaleidoscope of sound, colour and moods, a tribute to the bassoon’s versatility.
Other information:
- Recording made in 2011
- Booklet notes included
- Also available by Bram van Sambeek on Brilliant Classics: Bassoon Concertos by Vivaldi, du Puy, Villa-Lobos & Olthius (9149)
Philip Friedrich Böddecker: Sonata sopra la Monica (1651) from Sacra Partitura for bassoon, violin and basso continuo
Gioacchino Rossini: Three arias from Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816) arranged for two bassoons by François René Gebauer, Bodo Koenigsbeck and Bram van Sambeek: Ecco ridente (van Sambeek)
Gioacchino Rossini: Three arias from Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816) arranged for two bassoons by François René Gebauer, Bodo Koenigsbeck and Bram van Sambeek: Una voce poco fa (Gebauer/van Sambeek)
Gioacchino Rossini: Three arias from Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816) arranged for two bassoons by François René Gebauer, Bodo Koenigsbeck and Bram van Sambeek: Largo al factotum (Koenigsbeck/van Sambeek)
Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata Op. 168 for bassoon and piano (1921): I. Allegro moderato
Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata Op. 168 for bassoon and piano (1921): II. Allegro scherzando
Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata Op. 168 for bassoon and piano (1921): III. Molto adagio – Allegro moderato
Sofia Gubaidulina: Duo Sonata for two bassoons (1977)
Astor Piazzolla: Café 1930 (1986) from L’Histoire du Tango for bassoon (originally written for flute) and guitar
Pierre Max Dubois: Sonatine Tango for bassoon and piano (1984): I. Violent et animé
Pierre Max Dubois: Sonatine Tango for bassoon and piano (1984): II. Scherzando
Pierre Max Dubois: Sonatine Tango for bassoon and piano (1984): III. Tempo de Sarabande
Pierre Max Dubois: Sonatine Tango for bassoon and piano (1984): IV. Vivace
Chick Corea: Trio for flute, bassoon and piano (1968)
Earle Hagen: Harlem Nocturne (1939) arranged by Marijn van Prooijen for bassoon, double bass, Hammond organ and drums
