Maurice Allard - Paris. Five concerti of A. Vivaldi. B-flat Major, "La Notte"--A Minor, No. 7--F Major, No. 19--A Minor, No. 3--and B-flat Major, No. 23. I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone cond. (bassoon continuo played by Kiyoshi Koyarna, a former Allard pupil) Superb playing, as always. (Erato Recording STU 70837)
Fred Alston, Jr. - New York. Excellent young bassoonist performing on a jazz-classical recording, "Hubert Laws Afro-Classic." Hubert Laws is a well-known flutist, and on this brilliant recording plays both traditional flute sounds and electric flute. The most interesting piece, an arrangement of J. S. Bach's Passacaglia in C Minor, takes 15 minutes and 10 seconds and features lovely duet work for flute and bassoon and a stunning cadenza in perfect octaves by electric flute and electronically altered (tone) bassoon. (CTI Records. 6006. CTI of Canada address: 2372 46 Ave., Lachine, P.Q., Canada)
Gwydion Brooke - London. The G Major Violin Concerto of W. A. Mozart played on the bassoon. Also, J. C Bach's Concerto in B-flat for bassoon and orch. Serenata of London Emanuel Hurwitz. cond. and an orchestra led by Raymond Cohen. (Blenheim Records SLCW 1013. ($7 U.S.) from Henry Stave and Co., 9 Dean St., London, W. l, England). I have not heard this recording as yet, but Will Jansen of the Netherlands has reviewed it in detail with rave comments, as, "I really must admit, it is as if the piece were written for the bassoon indeed, and I would never have imagined that it would sound so beautiful."
Louis Salomons - d. Mexico (Netherlands). The renowned bassoonist of the Mexico National Symphony Orchestra, killed in a tragic accident two years ago, recorded some very interesting music of the Mexican composer-conductor, Carlos Chavez. SOLI I for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and trumpet and SOLI II for woodwind quintet. Also on this recording is SOLI IV for horn, trumpet and trombone. The composer conducts all three works. (Columbia - Odyssey ST Y 31534)
Milan Turkovic - Vienna. Vivaldi's Concerto in B-flat, Op. 10, 2 'La Notte' for solo flute, bassoon, and strings; with a Tauber 18th. century original bassoon. Recording does not name either soloist, so the flutist is unknown to me. Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond. Also Handel Oboe Concerto No. 3 and the suite "Alcyone" of Marin Marais, all with original period instruments. (Telefunken SAW 9626-M)