Bassoon

The Bassoon is a conical, double-reed instrument and is the tenor of the Oboe family.

The unsung hero of the orchestra, the Bassoon provides the main texture of the lower woodwind section of orchestras and concert bands. It has famous orchestral features in Bolero by Maurice Ravel, Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg and the Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.

Bassoons are considered easier to play than oboes, requiring less head pressure to get a sound, but strong lungs are required! They produce a reedy, mellow sound, and have a wide dynamic range. They play in C - no transposition is required - and have a large range, from a bassy Bb two octaves below middle C, up through 3 octaves to a Bb above middle C.