This beautiful, haunting melody 'Da Day Dawn' comes from the Scottish islands of Shetland. It is a tune of the winter solstice - the darkest time of the year when daylight barely appears in that part of the world. Its repetitive phrase is almost like an incantation for the sun and the daylight to return. The melody is around two or three centuries old. The bassoon's lyrical sound lends itself very well to performances of traditional folk melodies such as this.

The Day Dawns

This beautiful wordless song by the great Russian composer Rachmaninov lends itself very well to instrumental performance, and the special vocal qualities of the bassoon's sound are particularly well suited to the composer's wonderfully expansive melody lines. In this recording (currently not available on CD or download), Laurence Perkins is joined by his recital partner, pianist Michael Hancock.

Rachmaninov: Vocalise (excerpt)

This wonderfully expressive piece by the French composer Gabriel Grovlez explores a wide range of expressions and characters in the instrument. In this recording (currently not available on CD or download) Laurence Perkins is joined by his recital partner, pianist Michael Hancock. The photo was taken in the Vallee du Lot in the south of France.

Grovlez: Sicilienne et Allegro Giocoso (excerpt)

Here's a real fun piece, written by Laurence Perkins for the '2018 - Year of the Bassoon' project https://laurenceperkins.com/2018bassoon This is a duet for bassoon (played by Laurence Perkins) and contrabassoon (played by Tim Whittick) with tambourine accompaniment (played by Anthea Wood). This is an open access recording, you don't have to buy it to hear in complete, so sit back and enjoy the fun - this is one of many great aspects of bassoon playing - humour and enjoyment! Sincere thanks to Tim Whittick and Anthea Wood for agreeing to make this recording for the 'Year of the Bassoon' project.

Bear Boogie

Music has the power to support and inspire people in a difficult situation, and the bassoon has a unique and very special sound that can contribute significantly to this.

To help people in the coronavirus crisis, solo bassoonist Laurence  Perkins has set up a free on-line series of 61 miniature programmes, offering a daily selection of uplifting music featuring this remarkable instrument in many different settings. BASSOON ANTHEM is the music that launched this series, on 1st April 2020.

Bassoon Anthem is a characterful and inspiring piece. It is an original composition by Laurence Perkins, who also performed the music in this multitrack recording. Alongside his work as a principal orchestral player and as a soloist (recording for the Hyperion label), Laurence has devoted many years to playing solo bassoon in musical relaxation sessions with adult cancer patients, and inspiring children to explore music of all styles and genres.

Bassoon Anthem is also a celebration of the instrument which has offered inspiration for nearly a thousand years, originally as a member of the ‘City Waites’ - groups who provided musical entertainment for people from all walks of life in medieval cities and towns. In the 21st century, the bassoon continues this role as a special and distinctive musical voice in a vast range of musical styles.

Laurence’s daily on-line music series is at https://laurenceperkins.com/inspiration/

Laurence’s solo recordings for the Hyperion label can be found at https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A887

BASSOON ANTHEM composed and performed by Laurence Perkins

This unique recording features two Arias for solo bassoon by the 18th century French composer Michel Corrette, performed and recorded on location outdoors by bassoon soloist Laurence Perkins, in beautiful night-time and morning woodland settings in the south of France. it is an outdoor location recording, made in August 2017. The first Aria has a reflective, slightly melancholy character - the night-time 'soundscape' includes the evocative call of owls. At the end of this Aria, we move gently into a morning setting with birdsong and a chapel bell, which leads us into the second Aria with its cheerful up-beat character welcoming a new day.

Corrette 2 Arias (2017 soundscape location recording)

The versatile sound of the bassoon goes Latin in this vibrant tango by UK soloist Laurence Perkins. 
'Chacontango' is a solo backed entirely by bassoon ensemble. As well as being a tango in the style of the great Argentinian master of tango, Astor Piazzolla, the piece is also based on the ‘chaconne’ - a theme-and-variations form with a repeating bass line which was popular in the 18th century baroque period (hence the ’chacon’ part of the name ‘Chacontango’). This is an original composition by Laurence Perkins, who performs all the parts on this recording.

Laurence Perkins: Chacontango

This music was created by Laurence Perkins in May 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The first sequence - ‘Sunrise’ - leads us all from worldwide darkness into a new light and hope for the future. The second sequence -  ‘New Beginning’ - is a joyful, optimistic celebration of that future, featuring a popular 16th century English dance tune ‘The Beginning of the World’. The music features the unusual and hauntingly beautiful sound of the solo bassoon.

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