"Concerto for Bassoon and Strings with Marimba was a joint commission from The Ontario Arts Council and Michael Sweeney. Since it had long been my goal to compose a concerto for each of the orchestral instruments, Michael's request for a bassoon concerto presented me with an ideal opportunity.

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"Though the bassoon concerto repertoire is large, relatively few examples composed after the Baroque era have permanently entered the repertory. Because of this, I wanted to take up the interesting challenge of writing something that would be not only attractive and compelling, but enduring. I think I've met my first two goals, and as for the last, only time will tell.

"The piece is in one continuous movement that can be subdivided into an introduction, allegro, adagio, allegro, and a return to the introductory material. The entire work is derived from the initial melodic line of the bassoon. Overall, it is a voyage beginning with an entreating bassoon solo that invites the orchestra to participate in a journey of the pleasures and pains, joys and sadness of music." - M.M.​​