Michael Norris (b. 1934): Tango No. 2 from Three Dances (1980) - Catriona McDermid and Amy Thompson (extra bassoons) *
Michael Head (1900-1976): Clouds No. 1 from Three Fantastic Pieces (Pub. 1976) - John Flinders (Piano) *
Henri Sauguet (1901-1989): Barcarolle (1936) - Eira Lynn Jones (Harp)
Gordon Jacob (1895-1984): Suite for Bassoon and String Quartet (1968) - Carducci String Quartet
Jean-Michel Damase (1928-2013): Automne (Pub. 2006) - John Flinders (Piano) *
Thomas Simaku (b. 1958): Andante and Scherzo (1991) - Catriona McDermid, Matthew Kitteringham, Amy Thompson (Bassoons) *
Joseph Holbrooke (1878-1958): Souvenir 'Valse' No. 3 from Six Pieces, Op. 23 (1906) - John Flinders (Piano) *
Robin Walker (b. 1953): Twilight (Pub. 2005) *
Ruth Gipps (1921-1999): Honey-Coloured Cow, Op. 3d (1938) - John Flinders (Piano)
Vernon Elliott (1912-1996): Ivor the Engine signature tune (c. 1959) - composer's version for bassoon quartet - Catriona McDermid, Matthew Kitteringham, Amy Thompson (Bassoons) *
Joseph Horovitz (1926-2022): Rumpole of the Bailey (c. 1975) - Catriona McDermid, Matthew Kitteringham, Amy Thompson (Bassoons)
Alan Ridout (1934-1996): Pigs 'A Present for Gordon Jacob' (1972) - Catriona McDermid, Matthew Kitteringham, Amy Thompson (Bassoons)
Laurence Perkins (b. 1954): Darkness at Derwentwater (2022) - John Flinders (Piano) *
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959): Ciranda das sete notas W325 (1932/3) - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

* First Recordings

An enjoyable listening experience from start to finish. Not only for its long list of divergent composers and instrumental combinations and pairings, from bassoon and harp, to bassoon quartet to bassoon and orchestra, but mostly for its kaleidoscopic and at times even motley range of moods and styles, from humorous to profound.

This finely curated collection covers over a century of music from well-known to obscure composers, much of it rarely heard or performed, and even some recorded here for the first time. All of which makes this release a welcome addition to anyone's library of recordings, from bassoon enthusiasts to everyday music lovers in general.

It all begins with an upbeat Tango for a trio of bassoons by Michael John Norris who was the principal bassoonist for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1986. A complete change of mood follows with Clouds by Michael Head. Its engaging melody reinforces this composer's reputation as a songsmith, and allows British bassoonist Laurence Perkins to fully engage his expressive aptitudes. The final Rondo movement from Gordon Jacob's Suite for Bassoon and String Quartet once again elevates the mood, before drifting back into the melancholic sound of Jean-Michel Damase's Automne for bassoon and piano.

Within the booklet notes Laurence Perkins himself points out: "I chose the name of the short, delightful piece by Ruth Gipps as the title for this album partly because the music that Gipps wrote illustrates the much-discussed aspect of humour and the bassoon in a tasteful and perceptive manner. Yes, it has a 'moo' in it, just as Alan Ridout's Pigs contains a few grunts, but these are real pieces where the humour is simply an ingredient in music which is not primarily about creating cheap laughs at the expense of the instrument."

Darkness at Derwentwater by Laurence Perkins well defines the bassoon's dark and throaty character, and demonstrates that Perkins is a fine and crafty composer as well. All in all a great collection of works for this often overlooked instrument which clearly demonstrates that when in the proper hands, any musical instrument can be the star of the show.