A further discrepancy lies in the fact that the dulcian was carved out of a single block of wood-in other words, a single "stick" and not a bundle.Ĭircumstantial evidence indicates that the baroque bassoon was a newly invented instrument, rather than a simple modification of the old dulcian. Some think it may resemble the Roman Fasces, a standard of bound sticks with an ax. However, the usual etymology that equates fagotto with "bundle of sticks" is somewhat misleading, as the latter term did not come into general use until later.
The dulcian came to be known as fagotto in Italy. Otherwise, dulcian technique was rather primitive, with eight finger holes and two keys, indicating that it could play in only a limited number of key signatures.
A full consort of dulcians was a rarity its primary function seems to have been to provide the bass in the typical wind band of the time, either loud (shawms) or soft (recorders), indicating a remarkable ability to vary dynamics to suit the need. The origins of the dulcian are obscure, but by the mid-16th century it was available in as many as eight different sizes, from soprano to great bass. Music historians generally consider the dulcian to be the forerunner of the modern bassoon, as the two instruments share many characteristics: a double reed fitted to a metal crook, obliquely drilled tone holes and a conical bore that doubles back on itself. There are also short-reach bassoons made for the benefit of young or petite players. Playing is facilitated by doubling the tube back on itself and by closing the distance between the widely spaced holes with a complex system of key work, which extends throughout nearly the entire length of the instrument. Bocals come in many different lengths and styles, depending on the desired tuning and playing characteristics.įolded upon itself, the bassoon stands 1.34 m (4 ft 5 in) tall, but the total sounding length is 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in). The bocal connects the reed to the rest of the instrument and is inserted into a socket at the top of the wing joint. The joints between sections consist of a tenon fitting into a socket the tenons are wrapped in either cork or string as a seal against air leaks. The end of the bell is usually fitted with a ring, either of metal, plastic or ivory. Wooden instruments are lined with hard rubber along the interior of the wing and boot joints to prevent damage from moisture wooden instruments are also stained and varnished. This ensures coverage by the fingers of the average adult hand. The walls of the bassoon are thicker at various points along the bore here, the tone holes are drilled at an angle to the axis of the bore, which reduces the distance between the holes on the exterior. Both bore and tone holes are precision-machined, and each instrument is finished by hand for proper tuning. The bore of the bassoon is conical, like that of the oboe and the saxophone, and the two adjoining bores of the boot joint are connected at the bottom of the instrument with a U-shaped metal connector. Less-expensive models are also made of materials such as polypropylene and ebonite, primarily for student and outdoor use metal bassoons were made in the past but have not been produced by any major manufacturer since 1889. Bassoons are double reed instruments like the oboe and the English horn.Ī modern beginner's bassoon is generally made of maple, with medium-hardness types such as sycamore maple and sugar maple preferred. The bell, extending upward the bass joint (or long joint), connecting the bell and the boot the boot (or butt), at the bottom of the instrument and folding over on itself the wing joint (or tenor joint), which extends from boot to bocal and the bocal (or crook), a crooked metal tube that attaches the wing joint to a reed. The bassoon disassembles into six main pieces, including the reed. Even Stravinsky's famously difficult opening solo in The Rite of Spring only ascends to D 5.Ī 1 is possible with a special extension to the instrument-see "Extended techniques" below. The range of the bassoon begins at B♭ 1 (the first one below the bass staff) and extends upward over three octaves, roughly to the G above the treble staff (G 5). Higher notes are possible but difficult to produce, and rarely called for: orchestral and concert band parts rarely go higher than C 5 or D 5. However, the Italian name for the same instrument is fagotto.
The word bassoon comes from French basson and from Italian bassone ( basso with the augmentative suffix -one).