Read on for our guide to the bassoon, the big daddy of the orchestra's woodwind section.
What is a bassoon?
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument which, like the oboe, has a double reed. This gives it a deep, buzzing quality in the lower notes and a sweet, piercing sound higher up.
Though primarily a tenor and bass instrument, the bassoon’s range is large. It extends from B flat below the bass clef to treble E. The original name for the bassoon in Italian is fagotto, meaning ‘bundle of sticks’.
What does the bassoon look like?
Comprising a number of joints, the bassoon’s long, wooden, conical body can be separated into four main parts. Let's run through them.
The bell extends upward; the bass joint, connects the bell and the boot; the boot, at the bottom of the instrument, folds over on itself; and the wing joint extends from boot. The length of an average bassoon is around 135cm. It's worth noting, however, that the tube has a folded shape. That means it would actually measure around 260cm if extended to full length.
At the tip of the instrument is a fine metal tube known as the bocal. The bassoonist blows into a reed attached to the very end of the bocal. Inside the instrument is a tube which runs the length of the instrument and which steadily widens from the bocal through the u-shape at the bottom and up to the bell at the other end.
Reeds vary from player to player and bassoonists will customise them to best suit their playing. Beginners use pre-made reeds, but many advanced players make their own.
How do you play the bassoon?
Musicians usually play the instrument while sitting, using a seat strap. Otherwise, they can also play it while standing if they have a harness to hold the instrument.
Players produce sound by blowing air from the mouth to cause the reed to vibrate. The bassoon is unusual among wind instruments, as all ten fingers are used to play its metal keys, including the thumbs. It has an especially complicated fingering system. Players can produce notes of the same pitch using many different fingering combinations, which allows for different timbres and dynamics.
Bassoon vs oboe: what's the difference?
Like the oboe, the bassoon is played with a double reed. Unlike the oboe though, the bassoon is large and cannot be easily supported by the player's hands alone. The player therefore holds the bassoon diagonally in front of themselves, securing it with a seat strap if sitting, or a shoulder harness if standing.
Both the bassoon and oboe have a conical bore (body) – however the bassoon's long body requires a u-turn in the tubing. The instrument measures 135cm, whereas the oboe is just 66cm. A bassoon reed is placed onto a bocal, whereas the oboe reed is placed directly into the instrument.
The bassoon’s range is much larger than the oboe’s. The modern oboe extends just two and a half octaves upward from the B flat below middle C.
What are the different types?
There are a number of larger and smaller bassoons, but the most commonly used variation is the contrabassoon. This is the grandfather of the orchestral wind section, which sounds an octave lower than the bassoon.
Photo: Bassoonist Robert Thompson
Six great works for bassoon
Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 191
Mozart's only bassoon concerto is a cornerstone of the repertoire, blending charm, elegance, and technical brilliance. Its lyrical second movement is particularly beloved.
Highlights: Playful first movement, lyrical Andante ma adagio, a lively Rondo finale.
Poulenc: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano
Poulenc wrote some gorgeous chamber music for wind instruments, and this trio is one of the best of the lot. A 20th-century masterpiece, full of wit, melancholy, and French elegance. Poulenc dedicated the work to the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, who was very impressed with it and promised to perform it as soon as possible in his native Spain.
Highlights: Musical quotations from his contemporaries, including Gluck's Dance of the Blessed Spirits and an Offenbach 'galop'.
Berio: Sequenza XII
A modern, avant-garde solo work, this piece pushes the bassoon to its technical and expressive limits. It’s a tour de force of extended techniques, exploring multiphonics, circular breathing, and dynamic contrasts.
Highlights: The sheer variety of textures and colors Berio extracts from the instrument.
Saint-Saëns: Bassoon Sonata in G Major, Op. 168
More glorious French chamber music. A staple of the bassoon repertoire, Saint-Saëns's sonata for piano and bassoon features three Allegro movements. By turns, they are light, lyrical and conversational; playful and whimsical; and heartfelt, then spirited. Wonderful stuff.
Highlight: The rhythmic syncopations and lively dialogue of the Allegro scherzando middle movement, which introduces a mood of humour and light-heartedness.
Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in F Major, RV 484
One of nearly 40 bassoon concertos by Vivaldi, this Baroque gem highlights the instrument’s agility and expressive depth.
Highlights: Its vivacious outer movements and the soulful Largo.
Weber: Bassoon Concerto
Carl Maria von Weber’s concerto is a Romantic showcase for the bassoon, emphasizing its lyrical and virtuosic potential. Its dramatic flair and operatic quality make it a favorite.
Highlights: The flowing melodies of the Adagio... and the exuberant finale.
