Review of Bach "Italian Concerto" arranged for Double Reed Quartet.

Review by Ron Klimko, Bassoon Editor, International Double Reed Society. Review appeared in THE DOUBLE REED, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1998.

Phil Freihofner has done an excellent arrangement of this Baroque classic for double reed quartet. The work is beautifully printed in his own published edition. He has transposed the work from F major to G major, and it fits the instruments beautifully. The oboe parts ascend to high d3, the English horn to high a3, and the bassoon to high b2. It would take a skillful bunch of players to pull it off effectively. I would put the overall level at a III or III+ for the musicianship required. The arrangement gives all four performers interesting parts to play. The second movement is a tour-de-force for the first oboist. For those of you looking for a solid arrangement for double reeds of a great composition, you need look no further than this excellent edition.

Return to Phil Freihofner's Home Page