Description
Bassoon it Will Be Christmas
For two (or three) solo bassoons with orchestra, wind ensemble, or piano reduction
Duration: 5′
Orchestral instrumentation: *3*3*30 – 4331 – t+2 – hp – st
Commissioned by Michael Krajewski, principal pops conductor of Atlanta and Houston Symphonies, and The Philadelphia Orchestra
Notes from the composer:
In 2007, I was commissioned by Michael Krajewski (principal pops conductor of Atlanta, Houston Symphonies and Philadelphia Orchestra) to write a new orchestral Christmas work, after I suggested the title of “BasSOON It Will Be Christmas”. At the time of the suggestion, I didn’t know what I would write, but once he agreed, it was time to get busy.
Obviously, the piece would feature the bassoons, and in a short time, the idea came to mind of mixing famous bassoon audition excerpts with popular Christmas carols.
Who would have guessed that the following excerpts/carols blended together so well?:
Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Dukas) —– We Three Kings (intro) + God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen + Carol of the Bells (snippets) Overture to The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart) —– Joy to the World
March to the Scaffold (Berlioz) + Bassoon Concerto (Mozart) —– Pat-A-Pan + O Come All Ye Faithful
Cadenza —– Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky)
Figaro (in variation) – We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Symphony No. 4 (Beethoven) + Sorcerer’s Apprentice —– ending
Jim Stephenson 2013
BasSOON It Will Be Christmas combines some of the most popular bassoon excerpts with some of the most favorite Christmas carols. For example, who knew that “The Marriage of Figaro” (Mozart) fits perfectly with “Joy to the World”?! Others include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (We Three Kings) and “Symphonie Fantastique” (Pat-a-Pan), some Tchaikovsky (6th symphony), Beethoven (4th), and some Mozart bassoon concerto here and there for good measure.
Composer Jim Stephenson, well-known for very serious concert works (concertos for nearly every instrument) and humorous novelty numbers (such as Concerto for Cell Phone), had a lot of fun with this one!
Finally, a piano reduction created for this very popular holiday piece to feature the bassoon!
Originally created for solo bassoon section (two or three players) with orchestra, and then wind ensemble (or concert band), now bassoonists can gather their friends and present this on recital with piano accompaniment.
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