The three woodwind sonatas of Camille Saint-Saëns for oboe, clarinet and bassoon were composed in the final years of his life. In his mid-80s and knowing that he did not have much time left to live, he wrote to a friend, "I am using my last energies to add to the repertoire for these otherwise neglected instruments." So, why not adapt the bassoon sonata for an instrument even more in need of some repertoire? And actually, it is quite a natural fit!
