Bassoon

In the 14th century, a multi-folded wind instrument resembling a bundle of sticks was called 'faggot'. The basson is still called 'fagotto' in Italy, but the early instrument has more recently acquired the unflattering name 'sausage bassoon'. From this inauspicious beginning, the bassoon quickly established itself as a necessary foundation of the wind group. Its development paralled that of the oboe, but it did not readily lend itself to solo performance, being at first somewhat dull in tone. Vivaldi's 39 concertos represented its early coming of age, and a few year later, works by Mozart and Weber gave it the occassional chance to shine soloistically, but its main function in the 17th and 18th centuries was to provide sinew to the lower orchestral voices, strengthening the role of the bass viols and double basses.

Midi: Mozart Concerto for Bassoon in B Flat Major, K.191

The bassoon in the orchestra plays the same role as Gorgonzola among cheeses - a figure of fun. -- Cecil Gray

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