42 Caprices - Bassoon

Written by Étienne Ozi, professor of bassoon at the Paris Conservatory around the turn of the 19th century, these 42 Caprices for bassoon embrace all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding classical tradition playing, with many of them including cadenzas and tempo changes.

These etudes are a wonderful addition to any bassoonist's repertoire. They are especially helpful in developing an understanding of the classical style, and can help to ease students into the style before undertaking more substantial works like the Weber, Mozart, or Hummel concerti. Over the course of these 42 etudes, Ozi explores many, but not all of the key signatures, as well as both bass and tenor clef. Etudes vary in length from less than a single page, to larger, page-and-a-half works. Some of these longer etudes are appropriate for recital or competition performance.

The careful editing of Leonard Sharrow provides bassoonists with concrete metronome markings to achieve, as well as interesting dynamics and articulations.