Bassoon Concertos

As an instrument, the bassoon has had a remarkable history. Beginning with its Renaissance ancestry as the dulcian, it developed during the Baroque period into an almost indispensable part of the ensemble. Antonio Vivaldi recognized the versatility of the bassoon early on, composing no fewer than 39 concertos for it. But it was in the second half of the century that the bassoon achieved an equal prominence with the other woodwinds. The four delightful works on this disc, performed by Jaakko Luoma and the Tapiola Sinfonietta, represent different facets of the Classical period solo repertoire, each of which makes considerable demands on the instrument.