The bassoon is undoubtedly one of those instruments that is far too unknown. Yet the double reed, with its range between tenor and bass, has a very pleasantly warm sound and is capable of all kinds of surprises. Fortunately, there are compositions for orchestra and solo bassoon that do the instrument justice. The Tapiola Sinfoniette and bassoonist Jaakko Luoma, conducted by Janne Nisonen, have now recorded four of these on the album Crusell, Du Puy, Berwald & Brendler: Bassoon Concertos.

What unites the selection is that all four works were written for the same bassoonist: Frans Carl Preumayr, who was born in Germany and achieved success in Sweden, and who lived from 1782 to 1853. This also defines the basic musical orientation - Nordic Romanticism. And this is, as it turns out, diverse and charming.

The album opens with the Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, composed by the Finn Bernhard Henrik Crussell in 1829. Crussell, who was also Preumayr's father-in-law, is opulent in his four movements, but also knows how to skilfully showcase the bassoon and its strengths, whether in solo passages, in dialogue with other leading instruments or as part of the orchestral action. This is a fine prelude for the double reed.

In partial contrast to this is the rarely heard bassoon concerto in C minor by the Swiss composer Édouard Du Poy, which he probably wrote around 1812. It is finer, more lyrical and also significantly more dynamic than Crussell's tone sequence. And Du Puy repeatedly challenges the soloist with all sorts of sweeping runs. On the other hand, there are some downright playful passages, for example in the third movement. The orchestra and bassoonist Jaakko Luoma respond to this with admirable sensitivity, making the composition an acoustic delight of the first order.

Franz Berwald, Sweden's most famous Romantic composer, has the honour of contributing his Concert Piece in F major, Op. 2 from 1827. For a good 11 minutes, he clearly places the bassoon at the centre of the musical action and has it skilfully staged by the orchestra.

The album concludes its 70-minute homage to the bassoon with the final Divertissiment in Bes Major by the almost forgotten German composer Eduard Brendler. The composition undoubtedly lives up to its meaning as a pleasant pastime. The tasteful notation with its musically finely balanced sound fabric is, in its calm and sublime flow, a cleverly chosen conclusion to an eventful presentation of what a bassoon is capable of musically.

Crusell, Du Puy, Berwald & Brendler: Bassoon Concertos is a diverse and musically very demanding album that pays well-deserved tribute to the bassoon. Anyone who likes the instrument will find the recording by Jaakko Luoma, the Tapiola Sinfonietta and Janne Nisonen a gem of sound enjoyment. If you don't know it (that well) yet, you should definitely listen to it. It is well worth it. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Jaakko Luoma, bassoon
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Janne Nisonen, conductor

Photo: Antti Kangassalo