Eighth in a set of "atmospheric pictures" for varied combinations of solo woodwind and keyboard. This penultimate Stimmungsbild, entitled "In der Höhle des Bronzedrachen" ["In the Cave of the Bronze Dragon"] showcases the expressive intensity of the bassoon in combination with the harmonium. A sardonic opening section gives way to a plaintive central song with words, into which a melodic idea originally presented by the harmonium in the first section soon intrudes in an augmented form voiced by the bassoon. A recitative in the bassoon, followed by a whole-tone quasi-developmental episode in the harmonium, leads this song without words back to a recapitulation of the opening scherzo-like section and an abrupt return of the central section's principal melodic ideas. Harmonic sleight-of-hand prepares the ending in F Major (with a touch of Lydian mode introduced by the bassoon). The painting in the video is "Vision of a Demon" by Pinckney Marcius Simons. You'll find the full engraved score here for your perusal.

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