What was the bassoon first made of?

What was the bassoon first made of?

The bassoon is a 17th-century development of the earlier sordone, fagotto, or dulzian, known in England as the curtal. It was first mentioned about 1540 in Italy as an instrument with both ascending and descending bores contained in a single piece of maple or pear wood.

How is the bassoon sound made?

Sound on a woodwind instrument comes from a vibrating column of air inside the instrument. This double reed fits into a tube at the top of the instrument and vibrates when air is forced between the two reeds.

Where does the bassoon come from?

Western Europe
Bassoon/Place of origin

How are bassoon Bocals made?

Conical tube made from flat metal sheet Let’s take a look at the traditional technique for making the bocal. First the sheet is prepared, cut into the shape of a trapezium. Then it is bent inwards from both sides, and solder applied to the join. When heat is applied the solder melts, and binds the two sides.

How heavy is a bassoon?

Bassoons weigh about 7 1/2 pounds.

How many holes does a bassoon have?

The bassoon is played with both hands in a stationary position, the left above the right, with five main finger holes on the front of the instrument (nearest the audience) plus a sixth that is activated by an open-standing key. Five additional keys on the front are controlled by the little fingers of each hand.

How much does a bassoon cost?

A new bassoon can have a list price ranging from under $5000 to over $20,000. Many popular models are discounted by dealers and a bit of shopping around can be worth the effort. Used instruments can cost from about $2000 to as much as a new instrument.

Why is the bassoon important?

The modern bassoon plays an important role in the orchestra due to its versatility and wide range. The bassoon plays the role of tenor and bass in the orchestral double reed section (the oboe and English horn play soprano and alto, respectively).

What instruments can be self taught?

The 7 Best Musical Instruments to Learn On Your Own

• Bass Guitar.
• Ukulele.
• Harmonica.
• Recorder.
• Piano.
• Fiddle.
• Drums.
• Watch and Share Our Video.

What kind of wood is used to make a bassoon?

Bassoons produced today are made using hard maple mostly from Europe. Among the maple wood available, particularly hard wood is selected. That said, it is soft compared to the grenadilla wood used for making clarinets.

What’s the difference between a bassoon and a double bassoon?

Bassoons come in two sizes: the bassoon, and the double bassoon or contrabassoon, which sounds an octave lower than the bassoon. Early bassoons were made out of harder woods, but the modern instrument is typically made of maple. One of the precursors to the bassoon, the dulcian, was made out of a single piece of wood.

How are the tone holes on a bassoon made?

The alignment and covering of tone holes is very precise on the bassoon. Because the sizes of tone holes vary, the pads that cover them also come in a variety of sizes. Materials such as felt or cardboard, wrapped in leather made from goat, sheep or cattle skin, are used to make the pads.

When did the bassoon first appear in music?

Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band, and chamber music literature.