Bassoon
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The Bassoon is a large woodwind instrument, whose rich and mellow sound takes the bass parts in orchestras. The bassoon's tubular body is divided into four sections, and doubles back on itself to make it more manageable to play. However, playing the bassoon still involves great effort to overcome its considerable weight, and agility to control its awkward kevwork system.
| Family |
| Woodwinds |
| Pitch range |
| Three-and-a half octaves. |
| Material |
| Maple or rosewood, with a metal bocal. |
| Size |
| 4 ft 4 in (1.30 m) long ; total length of unwound tube is 8 ft 3 in (2.5 cm). |
| Origins |
| The bassoon evolved from the curlal, a double-reed, one-piece instrument from 16th-century Europe. |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The Italians call the bassoon a "fagotto." meaning "bunch of firewood." The poet, Sacheverell Sitwell likened the bassoon's deep, dark tones to the sound of "a sea-god speaking." |
