Sonata - BSN/PN [PDF]

Little is written or known of Sandré whose primary instrument must have been the piano, based on many of his compositions, and even the challenging piano part to this Sonata attests to this assumption. However, he also wrote for strings, mixed ensembles, and even wrote a Pastorale for Oboe and Piano, Op. 28. It is interesting to take note of some of his contemporaries, whose careers and compositions overshadowed his output of at least 92 opera, of which this Sonata is listed as Op. 3. They included such luminaries as Saint-Saens (1835-1921), Bizet (1838-1875), Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), and even the revered bassoonist and pedagogue Julius Weissenborn (1837- 1888). It is known that his Opus 10 was composed in 1873 when he was 30 years old, so we must assume that the Op. 3 Sonata is an earlier work, probably written in his twenties.

Originally written for cello and piano, the work lends itself exceptionally well to both the jovial and lyrical nature of the bassoon, as well as to the bassoon- friendly key and tessitura. It has been edited only slightly and retains all of Sandré’s dynamics and most of his articulations and expression indications. The issue of breathing between a performance by cello or bassoon is obviously quite different, and a few breath notations have been added as suggestions. These are not in the original manuscript. Lastly, as this is a transcription, my edits may be different from your interpretation and adjustments or changes are welcomed and encouraged.

I hope you find this addition of a mid-late 19th Century (Romantic) Sonata a welcome addition to the repertoire.

Trevor Cramer, editor