Bassoons

Bassoons are a family of low-pitched double-reed woodwind instruments. The standard orchestral bassoon is pitched in Bb and sounds lower than written; a higher-pitched member of the family, the contrabassoon, is pitched in Bb and sounds an octave lower than the bassoon. The bassoon’s distinctive reedy timbre helps anchor the bass line in orchestral and wind ensembles and can also supply virtuosic and lyrical solos in the repertoire.

Construction and mechanism: Most bassoons are made of wood, typically maple, although student models may be plastic. The instrument consists of a long folded bore with a curved bell at the end, plus a separate mouthpiece called a bocal to which a double reed is attached. The reed is handmade from cane and bound with a staple; players adjust reeds to control tone, intonation, and response. The instrument uses a system of keys and pads and is normally written in bass clef, though higher passages may appear in tenor or treble clef for some works.

Range and transposition: The bassoon covers roughly from B♭1 up to about E5 in normal use, with higher notes possible in difficult passages. It is a transposing instrument, sounding lower than written. The contrabassoon extends the range downward by at least one octave.

Repertoire and role: The bassoon is a standard member of modern orchestras, wind ensembles, and many chamber groups. It often plays the bass line but also appears as a solo instrument in concertos and contemporary works. Notable composers who wrote for it include Vivaldi, Mozart, and Stravinsky, among others. The modern instrument relies on the Heckel system of keywork, which became dominant in the 20th century.