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The Bassoon repertoire consists of pieces of music composed for bassoon as a principal instrument that may be performed with or without other instruments. Below is a non-exhaustive list of major works for the bassoon.
Baroque
A collection of historical bassoons, from early baroque to modern, including a classical contrabassoon.
Regards sur l'Infini and Deux sonnets de Jean Cassou for bassoon and piano (originally for voice and piano, transcribed by Pascal Gallois with the composer's approval) (1942/2011 and 1954/2011)
Concerto for bassoon and string orchestra opus 56a (2012)
Howard J. Buss: Ballad for bassoon and piano (2004) ; Behind the Invisible Mask for bassoon and one percussion (2004); Concerto for Bassoon for bassoon and piano, 2017; Fables from Aesop for bassoon and violin (2002); Four Miniatures for two bassoons (2010); Aquarius for 3 bassoons (2013); Levi's Dream for bassoon quartet (2011); Prelude and Intrada for bassoon quartet or ensemble (2007); Contrasts in Blue for oboe, bassoon and piano (2000); Cosmic Portraits for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2009); Emanations for two bassoons and drum set, 2016; The Enchanted Garden for bassoon and string trio, 2016; The Heavens Awaken for bassoon and string quartet (2008); Luminous Horizons for bassoon and harp, 2016; Trio Lyrique for horn, bassoon and piano (2013); Turbulent Times for flute, bassoon and piano; Village Scenes for oboe, clarinet and bassoon (2004).
Miguel del Aguila:Sunset Song for bassoon and piano; Nostalgica for bassoon and string quartet; Malambo for bassoon and string quartet (also with quintet and string orchestra); Malambo for bassoon and piano; Tango Trio for bassoon clarinet and piano; or bassoon, oboe and piano
Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble (2002)
Karel Janovický: ; Duos for violin and bassoon, No 1 (2004), No 2 (2006); Sonata for bassoon and piano (2005); Bassoon Quartet (2013).
Lior Navok: Ex Silentium for bassoon and piano (2018)
Robert Paterson: Sonata for Bassoon and Piano[2] (2001); Elegy for Two Bassoons and Piano[3] (2006–07)
Wolfgang Rihm: Psalmus for bassoon and orchestra (2007)
Ananda Sukarlan: "Communication Breakdown" for flute, bassoon and piano (2017)
Patrick Nunn: Gonk for Bassoon and Sound File (2004)
Fabio Mengozzi: Vision for English horn, Bassoon and piano (2020)[4]
Works featuring prominent bassoon passages
Johann Sebastian Bach: many bassoon passages, including: BWV 155 (Du mußt glauben, du mußt hoffen) and BWV 149 (Seid wachsam, Ihr heiligen Wächter).
Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; the second movement features woodwind instruments in pairs, beginning with the bassoons, and the recapitulation of their duet adds a third instrument playing a staccato counter-melody.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, fourth movement; Symphony 9 in D minor: fourth movement: --after the 24-measure exposition of the Ode to Joy (Allegro assai), the first bassoon enters with a prominent counter-melody for the next 24 measures; and continues a solo to add emphasis to the theme.
Georg Friedrich Handel: many bassoon passages: including: "Ariodante": "Scherza infida" (with mournful bassoon obligato); and "Amadigi": "Pena tiranna."
Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition as orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; particularly "Promenade II", "Il Vecchio Castello", and "Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells". A brief solo appears in the second part of "The Hut on the Fowl's Legs: Baba Yaga"
Ottorino Respighi: "Trittico Botticelliano", the second movement, L'Adorazione dei Magi, opens with a bassoon solo which transitions into an oboe/bassoon duet - the bassoon appears solo later in the movement also in a different figure.
Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemayá, prominently features a solo bassoon playing an ostinato that represents the syllabic rhythm of the poem on which the piece is based, also named Sensemayá by Nicolás Guillén.
Giuseppe Verdi : La donna è mobile, from the opera Rigoletto, bassoon plays the theme on the end of the aria; Messa da Requiem, 1st bassoon has an extended passage which begins solo but then accompanies the soprano, mezzo and tenor in the Quid sum miser section of the Dies Irae.
