Luboš Sluka (b. 1928)
Sonata for bassoon and piano Op. 2 (1956, rev. 1971)
I. Andante sostenuto
II. Allegro energico
Žilvinas Smalys - bassoon
Mantautas Krukauskas - piano
Recorded 2002 06 15 live using Sony MZ-R700 portable minidisc recorder and Sony ECM-717 microphone
The performance was a part of chamber music exam at Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
The bassoon was a Gebr. Moennig s/n 15177, made in former GDR around 1982
Although this sonata quickly made its way into bassoon repertoire and was included as an obligatory piece into Prague Spring (Pražske Jaro) woodwind competition program, it remains undeservedly underrated until today. There are several reasons for this. First of all, it is not a typical virtuoso showpiece - it lacks technically challenging passages and does not finish in a flashy manner. Its musical style is rather conservative and devoid of avantgarde influences. But on the other hand, this piece can offer pleasing melodies and a truly wide palette of emotions - from melancholy and intimate lyricism to despair and even rage. The piano part gets well beyond a simple accompaniment and quite often, takes the protagonist role. For a bassoonist, it requires a vast dynamic range and a good stamina to be able to sustain long melodic lines. Therefore it is not an easy choice for a recital and not suitable for young students either. Nevertheless, it remains one of my favorite pieces until today and I hope you enjoy this recording.
Picture by Mark Kremer
