What makes the bassoon unique?
It has a unique sound From the rich, growling timbre of its low notes, through the stately, lyrical sweetness of the middle, and up to the penetrating highs, the bassoon has one of the most characterful, complex and flexible sounds of any instrument.
How did the bassoon get its name?
Etymology. The word bassoon comes from French basson and from Italian bassone (basso with the augmentative suffix -one). Fagot is an Old French word meaning a bundle of sticks. The dulcian came to be known as fagotto in Italy.
How many keys does a bassoon have?
The number of keys on a bassoon can start from 22 up to 28; extra keys on the bassoon will allow the player to use alternative fingering. A short reach Bassoon is built for smaller hands, so the keys on the bassoon are either extended or some holes closed to make it suitable. 1. Reed: A double bassoon reed.
How many reeds does a bassoon have?
Like the oboe, the bassoon uses a double reed, which is fitted into a curved metal mouthpiece. There are 2 to 4 bassoons in an orchestra and they have a similar range to that of the cello. Bassoons usually play lower harmonies, but you will sometimes hear their hollow low notes featured in a melody.
How old is the bassoon?
The bassoon is a 17th-century development of the earlier sordone, fagotto, or dulzian, known in England as the curtal. It was first mentioned about 1540 in Italy as an instrument with both ascending and descending bores contained in a single piece of maple or pear wood.
How old is a bassoon?
How tall is a bassoon?
4 feet, 5 inches
Folded upon itself, the bassoon stands 4 feet, 5 inches (1.34 m) tall, but the total sounding length is 8 feet, 4 inches (2.54 m). The regular bassoon is often doubled an octave lower by the contrabassoon.
Why is the bassoon called the clown of the orchestra?
The bassoon is a double reed instrument in the woodwind family used in orchestra, wind band and chamber music. The bassoon has been called the “clown of the orchestra” because of its ability to produce a bright staccato sound and the jovial and comedic quality of its low register.
When was the first bassoon created?
What country did the bassoon originate?
Western Europe
Bassoon/Place of origin
How do bassoons produce sound?
A single reed is clamped to a mouthpiece at the top of the instrument and vibrates against the mouthpiece when air is blown between the reed and the mouthpiece. Two reeds tied together are commonly known as a double reed.
What is the bassoon related to?
If we are talking similarity to other instruments, the bassoon is related to the oboe and contrabassoon. They are the only commonly played double reed instruments.
What are facts about the double bassoon?
– The “compact” version of the double bassoon stands at 122cm tall with a bore length of 5.5m. – The modern contrabassoon is folded several times to make its great length more manageable. – A mute is sometimes used in order to help play the instrument softly. – In the 20th century the use of the German bassoon gradually became more universal.
What family does the bassoon belong to?
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor clefs, and occasionally the treble. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band, and chamber music literature.
What family does a bassoon come from?
(December 2019) The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which has a tenor and bass sound. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood or synthetic plastic. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity.
