François Devienne’s Quartet in C major Op. 73 No.1 is a prominent work for bassoon, violin, viola, and cello. Composed around 1800, it is the first of three quartets in the Op. 73 collection dedicated to Garnier of Lyon.

I. Allegro spiritoso: A lively opening movement.

II. Adagio cantabile: A lyrical, “singing” middle movement.

III. Rondo (Allegro moderato): A spirited concluding rondo.

The “Trois Quatuors Pour Basson, Violon, Alto et Basse, op. 73”, published by Erard (Paris) in 1798, were dedicated to Devienne’s friend, Garnier of Lyon. This may have been François Joseph Garnier (1755-1825), a noted French oboist and flautist, also a composer of solo and wind chamber music and a widely-used method for oboe.

These quartets are somewhat superior to most of those contemporaneous works written for a wind instrument and strings. Although the bassoon part is a brilliant one, each of the string voices enjoys a high degree of independence.