It received its world premiere on November 16, 2018, by the St. Louis Symphony and their principal bassoonist Andrew Cuneo under the conductor Cristian Măcelaru in Powell Hall, St.
I realize that such an intent is now looked upon with suspicion is some quarters, but I have never felt that every work of art is required to plumb the depths and secrets of human existence.
While there are occasional forays into the more 'comical' lower range of the instrument, more time is spent in the middle and upper tessitura of the bassoon, and melodic lines often tend toward the lyrical.
[1] Reviewing the world premiere, Sarah Bryan Miller of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch described the performance as "a resounding success" and wrote, "The composer rang all the changes in mood and style, but kept things accessible.
The concerto started out playfully, moved into mystery, explored some jagged rhythms; there were dialogues with those other bassoons, with the winds, the harp and other instruments, for an engaging whole.