Concerto for Bassoon

Concerto for Bassoon was composed in 2011 for Mary Stuckemeyer and later featured on her album Chocolates. Cast in three movements, the work opens with a lively, spirited first movement that highlights the bassoon’s agility and playful character. The second movement turns inward, offering a hauntingly lyrical theme that evokes a sense of solitude and longing. The final movement contrasts rhythmic, heroic gestures with a soaring, lyrical theme, balancing strength and vulnerability in equal measure. Together, the three movements showcase the expressive breadth of the bassoon, from its earthy resonance to its singing upper register. This concerto also serves as a companion to my earlier Euphonium Concerto, written for Mary’s husband, Pat Stuckemeyer. While the two works do not share melodic material, they were conceived with a parallel spirit and form, intentionally crafted to feel as though they belong together. In this way, the Concerto for Bassoon not only honors Mary’s artistry, but also continues a musical dialogue between two instruments, two performers, and two friends. Link to Recording: https://on.soundcloud.com/6b5gdeQd812RJNaVEK