Different instruments have different evocations. The oboe might bring to mind a lonely shepherd piping a tune to his flock. Flutes and piccolos can trill and chirp like birds. The trumpet signals the advance of an invading army, and so on. What about the bassoon? It has a rich and varied set of associations all its own such as the grandfather in Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf or the awakening of all of nature in Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Whether producing a rich baritone sonority or singing high into the treble clef, the bassoon is a versatile instrument.

Here, we have the good fortune to experience the beauty and versatility of the bassoon in the hands of a true master, Paul Rafanelli, bassoonist of the Seattle Symphony. Our setting is the hallowed production room of Long Shadows Vintners. In the future, it is likely the bassoon will come to be associated with lush bordeaux blends, a fitting evocation.

Artists: Paul Rafanelli, bassoon; and Kristin Vining, piano.

Commentary: Timothy Christie