These works are the epitome of urbane sophistication; elegant in construction, mellifluous and with a clarity of texture that allows the bassoon to shine. While he occasionally exploits the extreme upper and lower range of the instrument, Michl confines most of the bassoon writing to the tenor register where the instrument’s natural warmth and tone can be heard to advantage. As is the case in writing melodically for the cello in combination with strings, the composer needs to take particular car...