The bassoon lacks the substantial concerto repertoire of many of its orchestral counterparts. Although, beyond Mozart, this may pose programming issues for orchestras and chamber ensembles, the dearth of literature may spell opportunity for composers wanting to explore the soloistic qualities of the bassoon. American composer Nansi Carroll has written over 300 vocal, choral, and piano works in her positions as Music Director of St. Augustine Church in Gainesville, FL, Artistic Co-Director of A Musical Offering, and as a faculty member at the University of Florida, Stetson University, and The Walden School. In the past fifteen years she has concentrated on instrumental music, writing solo and chamber works for many instrumental combinations and mixed voices. After discussing with Dr. Carroll the historical difficulties of programming concerto works for the bassoon, she has writtenMr. Mitty, a tone poem for bassoon and chamber ensemble(2011). This work is based on James Thurber's short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." A considerable amount of Carroll's instrumental catalogue has been composed for the bassoon. She has written six other works with bassoon to date:Regina Caeli: Prelude and Reflections, for solo bassoon (1998, rev. 1999);Canciones, for three solo voices, flute, clarinet, bassoon, cello, and marimba (2004);De Profundis, for contrabassoon and low string quintet (2008);Estrofas: Llama de Amor Viva, for bassoon and piano (2010);The Servant Girl at Emmaus [A Painting by Velazquez], for contralto, three sopranos, soprano saxophone, and bassoon (2011); andSpiritual, for soprano saxophone and bassoon (2012). This treatise will review the evolution of the bassoon concerto from the Baroque era through the Twenty-first Century, with the purpose of discussing how composers have adapted contemporary forms and orchestrations from this genre. A biography of Nansi Carroll's life and works follows, with emphasis on how the evolution of her career and compositional style brought her to the idea of composing Mr. Mitty, a tone poem for bassoon and chamber ensemble. Finally, An analysis ofMr. Mitty, a tone poem for bassoon and chamber ensemblewill outline formal and thematic elements of Carroll's compositional technique in relation to Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."
