Spencer, William % Four Pieces (score & parts) - 4BSN/CBSN

Four Piecesfor four bassoons and contrabassoon (or five bassoons)by William Spencer (b. 1956) - American composer, bassoonist and conductor Serenade Ostinato In memoriam - passacaglia Pointless Fun   ABOUT THE MUSIC Stravinsky always claimed that he never began composing a piece at the beginning but somewhere in the middle. This set began life at the end with the fourth movement, for reasons probably best left unexplored. It should be played more or less as fast as possible without losing cleanness of execution. The first movement should be thought of as a lyrical, singing dance, while the second was characterized by a friend as “like Elaine’s dancing on Seinfeld.” I will take that as a compliment of sorts. The third movement commemorates someone who died tragically young (someone known to me only by reputation); it refers more or less obliquely to two pre-existing pieces of music that seem apt. All four are intended to be performed as a set, but there is no reason individual movements