One may wonder how many music lovers are waiting for a recording with 66 minutes of solo bassoon repertoire. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and listened. Several thoughts crossed my mind. Unlike the more familiar baroque repertoire on her previous album (Fantasies arranged for Bassoon Solo - Roy), which she demonstrated could be the equal of the cello solo, this second release enhances our knowledge of the instrument. The programme comprises contemporary composers, including some I did not know existed, and is complemented by Paganini variations arranged for bassoon. Upon first hearing, it is clear that not all of it falls into the ‘easy listening’ category. However, and that is my point, it offers thorough insight into what a bassoon is capable of.

Against this background, this release merits more consideration than just a passing interest. First of all, it opens up a wealth of information for anyone contemplating studying this instrument at a music school, making the choice all the more attractive. In this context, it may be noted that the bassoon was not Céleste-Marie Roy’s first love. From her bio, we learn that she commenced with the more popular clarinet and alto saxophone before moving on to the bassoon.

Now, with her experience as a teacher and first desk orchestral player, and detailed knowledge about who is who in the field of composers for this instrument (and that is more than wiki can tell), she has shaped the programme into a prime model of instruction for the few. For the rest of us, it will, by the same token, shed valuable light on the many technical and musical functions of a bassoon. Roy shows that the instrument is not only capable of lending body to the tonal structure, but also how it can speak its own language, whether that be serious or humorous in nature. Like, for instance, the melancholia in Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto or the personification of the grandfather in Prokofiev’s ‘Pierre et le Loup’.

However, the crux of the matter, and no doubt the most important part of it, is that all I’ve said above would not have worked if it weren’t for the fact that we deal here with an exceptionally gifted musician. On her journey from Boston to Geneva, her musical virtuosity and technical skills have evolved into the soloist she is today. This album is a well-recorded discovery, and not just for those seeking something unusual.

Blangy-le-Château, Normandy, France.

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