Wuorinen-Bassoon Variations(S-n3) OS

"Dedicated to Leonard Hindell, the remarkably seductive Bassoon Variations of 1971-2, "accompanied" (Wuorinen's term) by harp and timpani, are based on a 12-tone plan. With bassoon in the foreground stating melodic developments, harp and timpani provide coloristic depths to the principal's lyrical, often elegiac part. Bassoon Variations ends in a display of reversals of early-on materials, the final passage devolving to a wholly transparent epigram on the music's spirit and intentions."
-From a program note to the CD recording of the Bassoon Variations on New World CD 80517, written by Mike Silverton

Number of players: 3
Difficulty: Advanced

Instrumentation

Player 1: Bassoon
Player 2: Harp
Player 3: 6 Timpani