Composer Peter Schickele was trained as a bassoonist, and in this piece, his love of blues and folk music is very conspicuously integrated with classical tradition. Delta Jukebox was inspired by the Mississippi River Delta, thought to be the birthplace of blues, but its style is that of contemporary blues, rather than an imitation of the early blues of the Deep South. Its premiere took place in 2002 at the Zipper Concert Hall in Los Angeles. For college-level or professional players.