This work was originally entitled Divertimento pour Basson (Solo) et Quintette a cordes and completed on January 10, 1942. The composer's manuscript score has not survived and must be presumed lost. However in 1966 I succeeded in tracing a set of parts in the composer's handwriting which had apparently been used for the earliest performances of the work; these their then possessor the late Prof. Fernand Oubradous courteously loaned to me. From these I was able to prepare a new set of parts and a full score, which were used for the gramophone recording of the work made by the Melos Ensemble in 1968. Thus able to restore the text of the work to its composer, I was graciously rewarded by the composer with its dedication. He subsequently made some slight revisions to it before giving it to his publishers Messrs Schott (Mainz). They printed this revised version of the full score, now entitled Divertissement pour Basson et Quintette a cordes in 1969 (PN 42214), incorporating the material into their orchestral hire library. They subsequently issued both score and parts for sale in 1973 (CON 185) (now pour Basson et Quintette ou Orchestre A cordes), together with a reduction for bassoon and piano (FAG 17).
These published versions appear to contain what in my opinion are a number of minor proofreading errors and other discrepancies; these are listed here below.
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Full Score | Bassoon Part | Piano Part
