John Williams (b. 1932) is an American who became the best-known film score composer of his time, winning several Academy Awards and gaining wide-spread fame for such films as "Jaws," "Star Wars," "E.T.," and "Schindler's List." He also continued writing classical music when possible, in which he tended for a while to favor more modernist styles such as the twelve-tone system.

This concerto for bassoon and orchestra was commissioned in 1995 for the 150th annivesary observances of the New York Philharmonic, and was premiered by bassoonist Judith LeClair.

Williams got the notion of sacred trees from the writings of Robert Graves, the British poet and mythologist. While many cultures have had the notion of sacred trees, the subjects of the five movements of this twenty-six minute concerto are all from Celtic myth.

The bassoon solo, with its deep, woody sound, aptly opens the first mvoement "E- Mugna," an oak. The music here is lyrical and enduring. The second movement, "Tortan," refers to a tree that is mythical and associated with witchcraft. Its music is in the form of a lively dance tune, with Celtic fiddling joining the bassoon.

The third movement, "E- Rossa" (The Tree of Ross) represents the yew tree. The music is lean, spotlighting the harp as well as the bassoon. Interestingly, this relatively soft music represents a tree that can be used to summon the powers of destruction and restoration.

"Crach Uisnig," is the Celtic name for the ash tree, and Williams' violent agitated music relates to the tree's symbolic association with strife. The final tree is "Dathi," a tree that is the inspiration for poets, allowing Williams to close the concerto with a lyrical, melancholy duet for bassoon and flute.

© Joseph Stevenson, Rovi