Jean Francaix - "Divertissement" for bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, and bass (1942). (B. Schott's Sohne. Mainz, Germany).

I have received very many questions about the availability of this music. Francaix's original music had been lost for several years, was traced successfully by William Waterhouse, rededicated to him and published by Schott. Since then bassoonists have been able to purchase only the solo bassoon part and a piano reduction of the chamber music string parts. I went to Schott's this summer and could not find the work in their catalogues of chamber music, nor could they. But I did find it listed under solo music and as a "Divertissement" for solo bassoon and string orchestra! This explained the piano reduction and "rental only" of the string parts. I have since learned that Schott's have published a piece by Francaix for English horn and string trio or quartet and it is sold entirely as the chamber music it is. I recommend that bassoonists now write to Schott in Mainz asking for the complete chamber music (original version) of the "Divertissement." Write to me giving the result of your inquiries, and I will report again in the next issue.

Tadeusz Baird - "Quatres pr@ludes" for bassoon and piano. (Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne. Cracow, Poland. Copyright assigned to Sesac Inc., New York)

Very nice music and not technically difficult. Fine for students or bassoon recital programs.

Marcel Landowska - Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1959) (Editions Choudens, Paris. or, Peters Edition catalogue #C-347.)

Gy&rgy Ligeti - "Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet" (1968) (B. Schott's Sohne, Mainz. Nr. 6304, Score only. Pts. in preparation.)

Very hard but extremely effective music, written for the Stockholm Philharmonic Wind Quintet.

Frederick A. Mueller - "New Studies for Bassoon."

21 hand-written and privately printed studies - cover many of the "new music" techniques for woodwinds: flutter tonguing, multiphonics, extreme register, etc. (write to the author, Music Department, Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky 40351.)

Thomas H. Palmer - "The Bassoon Reed Profile and Measurement."

A very nicely prepared 95-page study of many bassoon reeds, using the dial indicator method. Rarely discussed points of cane fiber stress and size of the air space inside the reed are covered. Comparison of reeds made by the author and examples by Dominic Weir, Emil Wischert and Schober, well-known reed-makers. (copies obtainable from T.H. Palmer, 4 Chartwell Road, Stafford, England.)

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