Maurice Allard -- Paris. Sonata pour Basson et Piano, Op. 168 of Camille Saint-Saens, with Annie d'Arco, piano. (CALLIOPE records CAL 1819. Filipacchi Music - A Warner Communications Company).

Here, in my opinion, is a definitive and simply lovely performance of this favored Romantic sonata for bassoon and piano. This recording should be in the collection of every serious bassoonist and lover of music for the bassoon. Other works on the record are sonatas for the following wind instruments and piano (Ms. d'Arco accompanies each artist): oboe, Maurice Bourgue; clarinet, Maurice Gabai; horn, Gilbert Coursier and trombone, Jacques Toulon. The recording was made in April, 1975, and I received a copy directly from Maurice Allard. I would appreciate information from anyone on the availability of this recording in North America so I may pass this information on to readers as soon as possible.

Noël Devos -- Solo Bassoon, National Orchestra of Brazil (Mr. Devos was a classmate of Maurice Allard at the Paris National Conservatory and plays a Buffet-Crampon bassoon ).

On the occasion of a recent North American tour of the Brazilian National Orchestra, I had the great pleasure of hearing Mr. Devos' excellent playing in Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and several other works. The artist presented me with three fine solo and chamber music recordings made in Brazil and featuring himself and other wind instrumentalists of his orchestra in Rio de Janeiro. I was able to present to the double reed sections of this orchestra complete sets of back issues of "To The World's Bassoonists" which were enthusiastically received.

"Conjunto Ars Barroca" (Baroque ensemble of flute, oboe, bassoon, and continuo: 'cello and harpsichord). Trio Sonatas of Naudot (? -1762), J.B. Boismortier, J.B. Loeillet and T. Albinoni. Handel Concerto à 4 in D Major, and M. Corrette Sonata for Bassoon and B.C., Op. II, No. 2 in F Major. The artists are: Celso Woltzenlogel, flute; Kleber Viega, oboe; Noël Devos, bassoon; Watson Clys, 'cello; and Heitor Alimonda, harpsichord. (CBS Brazil recording CBS 160236).

"Sextetto do Rio" an all Villa-Lobos recording, made at the 1972 International Chamber Music Competition of music by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Music included has at least one work with bassoon I did not know existed (11 minutes 15 seconds in length), the DUO (Rio, 1970) -- "Guerra Peixe" for clarinet and bassoon. Other works are: "Choros No. 2" (Rio, 1924) for flute and clarinet; "Assobio a Jato" "The Jet Whistle") (New York-Rio, 1950 for flute and 'cello; and the "Fantasia Concertante" (Paris, 1953) for clarinet, bassoon and piano. The clarinetist is Jose Botelho. (Brazil, C.I.D. Companhia Industriel de Discos Album No. MEC/MVL 007--1973)

RECITAL works for bassoon (Buffet-Crampon) and Piano, recorded by Noël Devos with pianist Maria Lucia Pinho. Pierre Max Dubois 9 Short Pieces (1965), Eugene Bozza Recitative, sicilienne et rondo (1934), Alexandre Tansman Sonatina (1952), J.B. Boismortier Sonata (1734), J.S. Bach Sarabande and Gigue from the Suite No. 5 for Violoncello Solo, Jose Siqueira Estudo No. 2 (tempo de modinha), Ernesto Nazareth Apanhei-te cavaquinho chôro), Francisco Mignone Andante meditativo (solo bassoon) from the Sonatina for Solo Bassoon, and Jacques Casterede Fileuse (1962) (This is a privately made recording with no record label except ND-01 (Noël Devos); in May 1978 after I return from a tour of Europe, I will make a tape recording of this disc and send to the IDRS Library for members' reference. Ed.)

Otto Eifert -- Principal Bassoon, Cincinnatti Symphony (Ohio).

"Il Concerto", music for solo bassoon and solo 'cello. Roy Christensen is the 'cellist, and Virginia Christensen records the viola part in the M. Spisak work. Karel Reiner, Zasnamy for solo bassoon; and Michal Spisak Duetto Concertante for Viola and Bassoon. Robert Parris' Fantasy and Fugue for Violoncello Solo; and William Sydeman, Sonata for Violoncello Solo. (Gasparo Records GS-104 Stereo. Gasparo Co., P.O. Box 90574, Nashville, TN 37209, U.S.A. $6.95 U.S.)

Arthur Grossman -- Seattle Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet, bassoonist.

Fine performances of chamber music of Heitor Villa-Lobos: Choro No. 2 for flute and clarinet; Trio for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon; Bachiana Brasileira No. 6 for flute and bassoon and the Quartet for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon. (Musical Heritage Society MHS 1875. 1991 Broadway, New York, NY 10023)

Brian Pollard -- Principal Bassoon Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Music of Telemann, Fasch, Loeillet and Quantz. This recording is especially noteworthy for the exquisite performance and interpretation of the Telemann Quartet in D Minor which can be played either with solo bassoon or solo recorder. Probably most bassoonists have played it as a bassoon "showpiece" with two flutes and continuo. In this recording, Frans Bruggen plays the recorder on the solo line, two transverse (wooden) flutes are used, and Mr. Pollard plays continuo with the harpsichord. With this combination, the differing tone colors of the three types of wind instruments are delicious, and the quality of playing is of the very best. Flutists are Frans Vester and Joost Tromp, and the harpsichordist is Gustav Leonhardt. (Telefunken Das Alte Werk SAWT 9464-B Stereo)

Another beautiful recording which I would like to recommend to bassoonists is one which has no bassoon playing on it at all, but which contains a lovely performance of the Telemann Sonata in F Minor played by Frans Bruggen on recorder. Both the fully ornamented and stylish playing of Bruggen and the correctly realized continuo playing of Leonhardt and Anner Bylsma, 'cello, should give many bassoonists fresh ideas about this piece, correct rhythmic figures and a continuo which sounds like the same time period as the solo line. When playing the sonata with bassoon as the solo instrument a double bass is the ideal continuo stringed instrument because, unlike the violoncello, its tone and lower octave level will set off the bassoon sound and not compete with it. (Six Sonatas for Recorder and Thorough Bass -- Telefunken Das Alte Werk SAWT 9435-B)

André Rabot -- bassoon, with others in chamber music.

The music of Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713 - 1780). Fantasie in F Minor for oboe and organ and 13 chorales from the composer's "Clavierubung" (keyboard studies), arranged for soprano voice, oboe d'amore and English horn (IDRS take note!). The artists are Emil Mayousse, oboe and oboe d'amore; Paul Taillefer, english horn; Andre Rabot, bassoon; Agnes Giebel, soprano and Hubert Schoonbroodt, organ, harpsichord and director. (recorded by L. Schwann in Europe. MHS 1495. Musical Heritage Society, 1991 Broadway, New York, NY 10023, USA)

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