Four short movements for two Bassoons.Composer's Note.Take Two Bassoons is planned as one of a series of light-hearted works for pairs of instruments written with advice from performers who are also experienced teachers. Many of these pieces explore some specific opportunities and challenges inherent in the technique of each instrument.There are four short movements: Jaunty Tenderly Angry and Running Wild.Note from Marc Goldberg.Thea Musgrave asked to meet with me in New York to discuss a set of duets she was writing and we got together over coffee near Carnegie Hall for an indepth discussionabout the bassoon. I confess to having had momentary misgivings when asked to list things that were difficult to do on the instrument envisioning for a moment an etude of unforgiving notes difficult dynamics uncomfortable articulations clumsy cross-fingerings and the like arranged back-to-back in an endurance test to challenge the best players on their best day.What she has in fact created is delightful a charming set of pieces full of character wit colour and yes challenge perfectly suited for student and teacher alike and wonderful recital works to boot.I couldn’t be more pleased to have had some part however small in their roots and am looking forward to calling these pieces and Thea Musgrave - lifelong friends.

Andalag # 4 - Duo for 2 Bassoons (2011). Part of Andalag - Suite in 11 movements. Programme note Some years ago I was asked by the Faroese ensemble Aldubáran to compose duets for the woodwinds within the ensemble. The idea then came to me to write a Suite with the name “Andalag” in 11 movements. 8 movements are duets and are approximately 4 min. long. 2 movements are quartets and are approximately 8 min. long and 1 movement is an octet which is approximately 16 min. long. In other words the Suite will last approximately 60 min.   The (octet) instrumentation is 2 flutes 2 clarinets 2 horns and 2 bassoons. The Faroese word “andalag” has a multilayerd meaning. The first half of the word is “anda” and means to breath or spirit and the second half of the word “lag” means melodi mood or layer. I use two small ideas in this Suite. One idea is in a sort of major mood and the other in a sort of minor mood. Sunleif Rasmussen May 2013