A bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family that plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces and is usually made of wood. The bassoon is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity. The instrument is a non-transposing instrument and typically its music is written in the bass and tenor clefs, and sometimes in the treble. There are two forms of modern bassoon: the Buffet (or French) and Heckel (or German) systems. The bassoon is typically played while sitting using a seat strap, but can be played while standing if the player has a harness to hold the instrument. Sound is produced by rolling both lips over the reed and blowing direct air pressure to cause the reed to vibrate. Its fingering system can be quite complex when compared to those of other instruments.
The bassoons reed is made by bending double a shaped strip of cane. Its narrow conical bore leads from the curved metal crook, onto which the double reed is placed, downward through the wing, or tenor, joint (on which are the left-hand finger holes) to the butt joint (on which are the right-hand holes). The bore then doubles back, ascending through the butt to the long joint and bell, where the holes are controlled by keywork for the left thumb. The bassoon is held aslant on a sling during performance. It is exceptionally difficult to play because the traditional placing of the finger holes is scientifically irrational, yet this is essential to the production of a tone quality that has been one of the primary orchestral colors since the late Baroque era.
The bassoon is the lowest sounding member of the woodwind family and is perhaps the most versatile. Its double reed gives it a rich, slightly buzzing quality in the lowest notes and a sweet nasal sound higher up. Bassoons can be extremely expressive as solo instruments, and their warm vibrato enables them to sound remarkably human, a little like a resonant baritone singer. They are also great for creating punchy rhythmic lines and as bass instruments they help provide support for the whole orchestra.
