Bassoon repertoire

The bassoon repertoire consists of pieces of music composed for bassoon as a principal instrument that may be performed with or without other instruments. Below is a non-exhaustive list of major works for the bassoon.

Baroque



 * Johann Friedrich Fasch: Several bassoon concerti; the best known is in C major
 * Christoph Graupner: Four bassoon concerti
 * Johann Wilhelm Hertel: Bassoon Concerto in A minor
 * Michel Corrette: Concerto for 4 bassoons and continuo 'Le Phenix'
 * Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata in F minor
 * Antonio Vivaldi: 39 concerti for bassoon, 37 of which exist in their entirety today
 * Jan Dismas Zelenka: Six trio sonatas for two oboes (or oboe/violin), bassoon and basso continuo

Classical

 * Johann Christian Bach:
 * Bassoon Concerto in B♭
 * Bassoon Concerto in E♭ major
 * Franz Danzi:
 * Bassoon Concerto in G minor,
 * Bassoon Concerto in C
 * 2 Bassoon Concerto in F major
 * 3 Quartets for Bassoon and Strings, Op. 40
 * François Devienne:
 * 12 Sonatas (six with opus numbers)
 * 3 Quartets
 * 4 Bassoon Concerti
 * 6 Duos Concertants
 * Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Grand Concerto for Bassoon (in F)
 * Leopold Kozeluch:
 * Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major (P V:B1)
 * Bassoon Concerto in C major (P V:C1)
 * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
 * Bassoon Concerto in B♭, K. 191, the only surviving of the original three bassoon concertos he wrote
 * Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B♭, K. 292
 * Antonio Rosetti:
 * Bassoon Concertos in F major (Murray C75)
 * Bassoon Concertos in B♭ major (Murray C69, C73, C74)
 * Bassoon Concerto in E♭ major (Murray C68)
 * Carl Stamitz: Bassoon Concerto in F major
 * Johann Baptist Wanhal:
 * Bassoon Concerto in C major
 * Concerto in F major for two bassoons and orchestra

Romantic

 * Franz Berwald: Konzertstück
 * Ferdinand David: Concertino for bassoon and orchestra, op. 12
 * Edward Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra, op. 62
 * Johann Nepomuk Fuchs: Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major
 * Julius Fučík: Der alte Brummbär ("The Old Grumbler") for bassoon and orchestra, op. 210
 * Reinhold Glière: Humoresque and Impromptu for Bassoon and Piano, op. 35, nos. 8 and 9
 * Gioachino Rossini: Bassoon Concerto (attributed to Rossini, authenticity questionable)
 * Camille Saint-Saëns: Sonata for bassoon and piano in G major, op. 168
 * Carl Maria von Weber:
 * Andante e rondo ungarese in C minor, op. 35b
 * Bassoon Concerto in F, op. 75

Twentieth century

 * Miguel del Aguila:
 * Hexen for bassoon and string orchestra
 * Hexen for bassoon and piano
 * Luciano Berio: Sequenza XII for solo bassoon (1995)
 * Pierre Boulez: Dialogue de l'ombre double for bassoon and electronics (originally for clarinet, transcribed for bassoon by the composer – 1995)
 * Howard J. Buss: A Day in the City for solo bassoon (1986)
 * Time Capsule for oboe and bassoon (1996)
 * Desert Odyssey for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1997)
 * Peter Maxwell Davies: Strathclyde Concerto no.8 for bassoon and orchestra
 * Edison Denisov
 * Cinq Etudes for bassoon (1983)
 * Sonata for solo bassoon (1982)
 * Franco Donatoni: Concerto for bassoon (1952)
 * Henri Dutilleux:
 * Sarabande et Cortège for bassoon and piano (1942)
 * Regards sur l'Infini and Deux sonnets de Jean Cassou for bassoon and piano (originally for voice and piano, transcribed by Pascal Gallois with the composer's approval) (1942/2011 and 1954/2011)
 * Alvin Etler: Sonata for bassoon and piano (1951)
 * Jean Françaix:
 * Quadruple Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1935)
 * Divertissement for bassoon and string quintet (or orchestra) (1942)
 * Le coq et le renard (The Rooster and the Fox) for 4 bassoons (1963)
 * Sept impromptus for flute and bassoon (1977)
 * Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1994)
 * Two pieces for bassoon and piano (1996)
 * Glenn Gould: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1950)
 * Sofia Gubaidulina:
 * Concerto for bassoon and low strings (1975)
 * Duo sonata for two bassoons (1977)
 * Mozart Camargo Guarnieri:
 * Choro for bassoon and orchestra (1991)
 * César Guerra-Peixe
 * Three pieces for bassoon and piano (1944)
 * Duo for clarinet and bassoon (1970)
 * Paul Hindemith:
 * Sonata for bassoon and piano (1938)
 * Four pieces for cello and bassoon (1941)
 * Concerto for trumpet, bassoon and orchestra (1949)
 * Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, harp and orchestra (1949)
 * Bertold Hummel:
 * Concertino for bassoon and strings, Op. 27b (1964/1992)
 * 5 Epigrams for bassoon solo Op. 51 (1973)
 * Divertimento for bassoon and violoncello, Op. 62 (1978)
 * Gordon Jacob:
 * Concerto for bassoon, strings and percussion
 * Four Sketches for bassoon
 * Partita for bassoon
 * Paul Jeanjean: Prelude and Scherzo for bassoon and piano (1911)
 * André Jolivet:
 * Concerto for bassoon, strings, harp and piano (1954)
 * Pastorales de Noël for flute, bassoon and harp (1943)
 * Lev Knipper: Concerto for bassoon and strings (1969)
 * Charles Koechlin:
 * Three pieces for bassoon and piano, Op. 18 (1899–1907)
 * Sonata for bassoon and piano, Op.71 (1918)
 * Silhouettes de comédie, 12 pieces for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 193 (1942–1943)
 * György Kurtág: Játékok és üzenetek for solo bassoon (1986–2001)
 * Mary Jane Leach: Feu de Joie for solo bassoon and six taped bassoons (1992)
 * Anne LeBaron: After a Dammit to Hell for bassoon solo (1982)
 * Jef Maes: Burlesque for bassoon and piano (1957)
 * Francisco Mignone:
 * Concertino for bassoon and orchestra (1957)
 * Double Bassoon Sonata no. 1 (1961)
 * Sonatina for bassoon (1961)
 * Invention for clarinet and bassoon (1961)
 * Invention for flute and bassoon (1961)
 * Double Bassoon Sonata no. 2 "Ubayera e Ubayara" (1966)
 * "Tetrafonia e variações em busca de um tema" for four bassoons (1967)
 * "Non nova, sed nove" for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1967)
 * Passacaglia for clarinet and bassoon (1968)
 * Four symphonies for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1968)
 * "Sonata a 3" for three bassoons (1978)
 * "3rd Égloga" oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1978)
 * 16 valses for bassoon (1979–1981)
 * Concertino for clarinet, bassoon and orchestra (1980)
 * Four Brazilian pieces for four bassoons (1983)
 * Seresta for bassoon and orchestra (1983)
 * Ștefan Niculescu
 * Sincronie III for flute, oboe and bassoon (1985)
 * "Monophonie", sonata for bassoon (and voice ad libitum) (1989)
 * Willson Osborne: Rhapsody for bassoon
 * Andrzej Panufnik: Concerto for bassoon and small orchestra (1985)
 * Francis Poulenc:
 * Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano (1926)
 * Sonata for clarinet and bassoon (1922)
 * Sergei Prokofiev: Humoristic Scherzo for four bassoons, Op. 12b (1915)
 * Einojuhani Rautavaara: Bassoon Sonata (1970)
 * Alan Ridout: Concertino for bassoon and strings (1975)
 * Timothy Salter:
 * Monopolies for solo bassoon (1995)
 * Imprints for bassoon and piano (1997)
 * Claudio Santoro:
 * Duo for bassoon and piano (1982)
 * Fantasia Sul América for solo bassoon (1983)
 * Alexander Shchetynsky
 * Lento pensieroso for solo bassoon (1994)
 * Richard Strauss:
 * Duett-Concertino in F major for clarinet and bassoon with string orchestra and harp, TRV 293, AV 147 (1947)
 * Der Zweikampf in B♭ major, polonaise for flute, bassoon and orchestra, TRV 133, AV 82 (1884)
 * Lubos Sluka: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1971)
 * Stjepan Šulek: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra
 * Alexandre Tansman:
 * Sonatine for bassoon and piano
 * Suite for bassoon and piano
 * Heitor Villa-Lobos:
 * Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1921)
 * Ciranda das sete notas for bassoon and string orchestra (1933)
 * Bachianas Brasileiras no. 6 for flute and bassoon
 * Fantasia concertante for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1953)
 * Duo for oboe and bassoon (1957)
 * John Williams: The Five Sacred Trees: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1995)
 * Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: Suite-concertino for bassoon and chamber orchestra (1933)
 * Isang Yun: Monolog for bassoon solo (1983–1984)
 * Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1992)

Twenty-first century

 * Nimrod Borenstein
 * Concerto for bassoon and string orchestra opus 56a (2012)
 * Howard J. Buss
 * Aquarius for 3 bassoons (2013)
 * Ballad for bassoon and piano (2004)
 * Behind the Invisible Mask for bassoon and one percussion (2004)
 * Bassoonisms for four bassoons (2020)
 * Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (2022)
 * Concerto for Bassoon for bassoon and piano (2017)
 * Contrasts in Blue for oboe, bassoon and piano (2000)
 * Emanations for two bassoons and drum set (2016)
 * The Enchanted Garden for bassoon and string trio (2016)
 * Fables from Aesop for bassoon and violin (2002)
 * Four Miniatures for two bassoons (2010)
 * The Heavens Awaken for bassoon and string quartet (2008)
 * Island of Enchantment for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano (2023)
 * Levi's Dream for bassoon quartet (2011)
 * Luminous Horizons for bassoon and harp (2016)
 * Prelude and Intrada for bassoon quartet or ensemble (2007)
 * Spring Reverie for viola, cello and bassoon (2023)
 * Trio Lyrique for horn, bassoon and piano (2013)
 * Turbulent Times for flute, bassoon and piano
 * Village Scenes for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2004)
 * Miguel del Aguila:Sunset Song for bassoon and piano; Nostalgica for bassoon and string quartet; Malambo for bassoon and string quartet (also with quintet and string orchestra); Malambo for bassoon and piano; Tango Trio for bassoon clarinet and piano; or bassoon, oboe and piano
 * Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble (2002)
 * Karel Janovický: ; Duos for violin and bassoon, No 1 (2004), No 2 (2006); Sonata for bassoon and piano (2005); Bassoon Quartet (2013).
 * Matt Laing: Of Paradise Lost for bassoon and orchestra (2021)
 * Libby Larsen: Jazz Variations for Solo Bassoon (1977), Concert Piece for Bassoon and Piano (2008), Full Moon in the City (2013)
 * Lior Navok: Ex Silentium for bassoon and piano (2018)
 * Robert Paterson: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (2001); Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano (2006–07)
 * Wolfgang Rihm: Psalmus for bassoon and orchestra (2007)
 * Ananda Sukarlan: "Communication Breakdown" for flute, bassoon and piano (2017)
 * Graham Waterhouse: Basson Quintet (2003); Bright Angel for three bassoons and contrabassoon (2008)
 * Patrick Nunn: Gonk for Bassoon and Sound File (2004)
 * Shai Cohen: Treatise for Bassoon and diffused electronics (2019)
 * Fabio Mengozzi: Vision for English horn, Bassoon and piano (2020)

Works featuring prominent bassoon passages

 * Johann Sebastian Bach: many bassoon passages, including: BWV 155 (Du mußt glauben, du mußt hoffen) and BWV 149 (Seid wachsam, Ihr heiligen Wächter).
 * Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; the second movement features woodwind instruments in pairs, beginning with the bassoons, and the recapitulation of their duet adds a third instrument playing a staccato counter-melody.
 * Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, fourth movement; Symphony 9 in D minor: fourth movement: --after the 24-measure exposition of the Ode to Joy (Allegro assai), the first bassoon enters with a prominent counter-melody for the next 24 measures; and continues a solo to add emphasis to the theme.
 * Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique. In the fourth movement, there are several solo and tutti bassoon passages. This piece calls for four bassoons.
 * Georges Bizet: Carmen, Entr'acte to Act II features two bassoons initially in unison to the tune of "Dragons d'Alcala" from the opera.
 * Benjamin Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Variation D features the bassoons.
 * Emmanuel Chabrier: España, four bassoons in unison play a Spanish tune.
 * Frédéric Chopin: "Piano Concerto No. 2 (Chopin)", measures 82, etc. of the Larghetto feature a sublime moment for the bassoon.
 * Michael Daugherty: Alligator Alley features bassoon solos at the beginning and lively melody through the whole piece.
 * Gaetano Donizetti: Una furtiva lagrima, from the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore, opens with a solo bassoon passage.
 * Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, widely recognized as used in the film Fantasia; the main melody is first heard in a famous bassoon solo passage.
 * Manuel de Falla: The Three-cornered Hat, where the bassoon represents El corregidor (the magistrate).
 * Edvard Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King.
 * Georg Friedrich Handel: many bassoon passages: including: "Ariodante": "Scherza infida" (with mournful bassoon obbligato); and "Amadigi": "Pena tiranna."
 * Franz Josef Haydn: The Creation: "Holde Gattin"; and Symphony No. 68.
 * W A Mozart: many, for example, "Symphony No. 41 (Mozart)", as mentioned above; "Great Mass in C minor, K. 427", in the Et incarnatus est, the bassoon is one of three obligato soloists to accompany the soprano.
 * Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition as orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; particularly "Promenade II", "Il Vecchio Castello", and "Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells". A brief solo appears in the second part of "The Hut on the Fowl's Legs: Baba Yaga"
 * Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, the main theme of the first movement is introduced by a pair of bassoons.
 * Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, the 12th movement, "Olim lacus colueram", opens with a high bassoon solo.
 * Krzysztof Penderecki: Symphony no. 4 "Adagio", a long solo passage followed by strings in the background appears in the middle of the symphony.
 * Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, the theme of the grandfather; Piano Concerto No.3 in C major Op.26, third movement, bassoon and cellos play the theme in staccato and pizzicato; Violin Concerto No. 1, third movement, a playful theme similar to the main theme gets introduced by the bassoon at the beginning of the movement before the solo violin comes in
 * Jean-Philippe Rameau: "Entrée de Polymnie", from the Act IV of his posthumous opera Les Boréades
 * Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole, features a fast, lengthy dual cadenza at the end of the first movement; Boléro, the bassoon has a high descending solo passage near the beginning; Piano Concerto in G Major; Piano Concerto in D Major (for the left hand), prominent use of contrabassoon in the opening; Ma mère l'oye a contrabassoon solo in the fourth part; Alborada del gracioso, solo after the theme, a long solo.
 * Ottorino Respighi: "Trittico Botticelliano", the second movement, L'Adorazione dei Magi, opens with a bassoon solo which transitions into an oboe/bassoon duet - the bassoon appears solo later in the movement also in a different figure.
 * Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, second movement: "Tale of the Kalendar Prince"
 * Dmitri Shostakovich: Several symphonies including No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7 "Leningrad" first movement, No. 8, and No. 9 (4th to 5th movement, one of the biggest bassoon solos in the symphonic repertoire), No. 10, No. 15.
 * Jean Sibelius: Symphony 2 in D minor, second movement opening—bassoons play in octaves; Symphony 5 in E-flat major.
 * Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, opens with a famously unorthodox bassoon solo; The Firebird, "Berceuse"; "Infernal Dance" with contrabassoon, horns, trombone, tuba; Pulcinella Suite.
 * Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemayá, prominently features a solo bassoon playing an ostinato that represents the syllabic rhythm of the poem on which the piece is based, also named Sensemayá by Nicolás Guillén.
 * Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4 in F minor, Symphony 5 in E minor, Symphony 6 in B minor.
 * Giuseppe Verdi : La donna è mobile, from the opera Rigoletto, bassoon plays the theme on the end of the aria; Messa da Requiem, 1st bassoon has an extended passage which begins solo but then accompanies the soprano, mezzo and tenor in the Quid sum miser section of the Dies Irae.