Athough most major cities in the USA can claim to have a good collection of music A. available for loan, a unique and fascinating collection of interest to instrumentalists is the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music in the Free Library of Philadelphia. Edwin A. Fleisher began a collection of music in 1901 to provide music for an amateur orchestra which he founded and was a patron, and presented it to the city of Philadelphia Library in 1929. He also made provision to continue to acquire works, and specified that the holdings be made available free-of-charge to organizations who qualify as borrowers. Mr. Fleisher was not only interested in the standard repertoire, but attempted to obtain a cross-section of the best contemporary works from around the world, and some lesser known earlier music. The collection is still growing. As of the most recent catalog in 1975, there were 13,000 works available.

In addition to scores and parts of modern editions, there are numerous Ist edition publications, manuscripts, and the staff of the Fleisher Collection prepares editions of works which might otherwise be unavailable in modern edition.

Music may be lent to recognized orchestras, colleges, universities, and conservatories, but does not lend to individuals. If you wish to borrow music, you must submit a request on official stationery with a signature from an official of the institution. A nominal fee is charged for shipping and handling.

You must make your requests in writing, and include the composer and title of the work, date of first rehearsal, date of performance, and number of string parts required.

The Edwin Feisher Music Collection,
Philadelphia Free Library
Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103

I have included the titles of SOLO works for bassoon with orchestra. In addition to these titles, there are numerous works for multiple solo winds and orchestra, (sinfonia concertante), as well as smaller wind ensemble works.

I have simply given titles, dates of composers if listed in the catalog, and the reference number. The complete catalog listing includes the instrumentation.

The list is drawn from the catalog:

Bach, JC (1735-1782)
Concerto in Bb for bassoon and orchestra 332m
Concerto in Eb 322m

Bielfield, August (1847-1924)
Divertimento in D minor for bassoon and orchestra 875m

Colyns, Jean Baptiste 1834-1902
Fantasy in g minor for bassoon and string orchestra 791m

Donovan, Richard 1891-1970
Fantasia for bassoon and seven instruments (1960) 344m
First performed Houston, Paul Tucci soloist

Elgar, Edward (1857-1934)
Romance for bassoon and orchestra op. 62 544m

Ericksson, Nils (1902-)
Concerto in b minor 1086m
First performed in 1944, Harry Axelsson, soloist

Gipps, Ruth (1921-)
Leviathan for solo double-bassoon and chamber orchestra, Op 59 224m
First performed 1971, London, Val Kennedy, soloist

Goeb, Roger (1914-)
Concertante II for bassoon and string orchestra (1951) 1084m

Graun, Johann Gottlieb (1773-1771)
Concerto in Bb Major for bassoon, strings and BC 305m

Human, Adolph (1794-)
Concerto for bassoon and orchestra in F Major 842m

Jacobi, Karl (1790-1852)
Concertino for bassoon and orchestra in Bb op.72 366m
Divertissement for bassoon and orchestra, op.11 382m
Introduction, Theme and Variations for bassoon and orchestra 481m
Potpourri, "The Berlin Woman in Vienna" for bassoon and orchestra op. 14 346m

Klughardt, August Friedrich Martin (1847-1902)
Romance for bassoon and orchestra 792m

Leo, Leonardo Ortensio Salvatore De
Vocalise for bassoon and Strings 910m

Luca, A. de
Ballade for bassoon and string orchestra (1879) 726p

Milde, Ludwig
Andante and Rondo, bassoon and orchestra op. 25 698m

Muller, Siegfried Walther (1905-1946)
Concerto for bassoon and chamber orchestra in F Major, op 56 372m

Neukirchner, Wenzel (1805-)
Fantasy for bassoon and orchestra 381m

Orlamunder (?)
Concerto in Bb (one mvt,) bassoon and orchestra 837m

Paudert, E
Variations #1 for bassoon and orchestra 853m

Paul, Carl
Fantasiestuck for bassoon and orchestra 879m

Pierne, Paul (1863-1937)
Solo de concert for bassoon and orchestra op. 35 621m

Rogers, Bernard (1893-1968)
Soliloquy #2 for bassoon and string orchestra 934m
First performance, Rochester, 1938, Vincent Pezzi, soloist

Santorsola, Guido (1904-)
Concerto for bassoon and orchestra 286m
Commissioned by bassoonist Gerhart Hasse (1959)

Schmidt, C (fl. 1790-1810)
Introduction, Theme and Variations for bassoon and string orchestra 348m

Schneider, Georg Abraham (1770-1839)
Concerto for bassoon in F Major op. 85 856m

Soriano, Alberto (1915-)
Divertimento for bassoon and strings (1954) 454m
First performance, Montevideo, 1955, Gerhart Hasse, soloist

Spisak, Michal (1914-1965)
Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (1944) 1050m

Stamitz, Carl (1745-1801)
Concerto in F Major for bassoon and orchestra 250m

Vidal, Paul Antoine (1863-1931)
Melodic in D Major for bassoon and strings 822s

Wagner, Joseph Frederick (1900-1974)
Introduction and scherzo for bassoon and strings (1954) 461m

Weber, Carl Maria Von (1786-1826)
Andante & Rondo Ongarese for bassoon and orchestra op. 35 625m
Composed in 1809, first performed Prague, 1813, G. Fr. Brandt, soloist

Weinzweig, John (1913-)
A Tale of Tuamotu for bassoon and orchestra (2939) 969m

Weissenborn, Julius (1837-1888)
Ballade, op. 9 #6 for bassoon and orchestra 480m
Scherzo op. 9 #5 for bassoon and orchestra 4467m

Wiedemann, Ludwig
"Auf den Lagunen", Barcarole, op. 12 for bassoon and orchestra 793m

Zuehn, Joseph Carl
Concertino in the Form of a Chorale Scene, for bassoon and orchestra 494m

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