bassoons

Orchestra's deep woodwinds

Bassoons are large woodwind instruments with a double reed and a long, curved metal tube called a bocal.

The bassoon produces a deep, rich tone and typically plays bass and tenor parts in orchestras and wind ensembles.

Its distinctive sound ranges from sonorous and mellow to comic and buzzing: The bassoons introduced the theme before the strings entered.

instrument

double reed

Paired vibrating cane strips

woodwindBlown orchestral instrument type
bocalBassoon neck tube
bellHollow resonating instrument

wing joint · crook · keys · fingering · embouchure · contrabassoon · low register · bassoonist · Fox · bore

orchestral

woodwind section

Air-blown instrument ensemble

orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
chamber musicSmall-group classical compositions
symphonicPertaining to large-scale orchestral music

principal · second chair · tutti · Rite of Spring · Scheherazade · bass line · harmony · countermelody · doubling · blend

sound

reedy

Thin and high-pitched

sonorousDeep and full-toned
deepFar from surface
richHaving much of something

mellow · plaintive · humorous · staccato · legato · vibrato · buzzing · nasal · lyrical · expressive

Categories

orchestraorchestra, symphony orchestra, philharmonic, strings, string orchestra
instrumentsguitar, guitars, piano, pianos, drum
chamber orchestrastrings, violins, violas, cellos, double basses
orchestrassymphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, philharmonic, string ensemble, sinfonietta

Opposites

instrument register/pitch

bassoonspiccolos

Half-sized high flutes

flutes · fifes · tin whistles · harmonicas · ocarinas

instrument family

bassoonstrumpets

Valved brass instruments

trombones · French horns · tubas · brass instruments · violins

Family

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G