Interesting backstory: Bolero was written in response to a copyright issue. Ravel was going to write a short ballet score to a melody by Albeniz, but the rights to the melody had been legally given to someone else, and Ravel decided to use his own melody instead in an experiment to see if orchestration alone could propel a composition. (more on the story
here)
On a personal note, my composition professor was Romeo Cascarino, best known for his opera William Penn and his bassoon sonata. He was a disciple of Ravel, and would make me write page after page after page of Ravellian harmonies. I learned two things from him: the wonders of harmony, and that I was not cut out to make my living as a composer, and for both lessons I have been grateful.
Thanks for posting that. I played the bassoon in high school, but haven't touched one since 1949. However, I have a sizable collection of recordings of bassoon music.