I have an interesting dilema on my hands, I was thinking about the importance of a bassoon in musical groups yesterday, and decided that a bassoon is like the bridge between the low brass and woodwinds in a band, without it, it would just sound funky. However, in an orchestra, when the idea of a bridge is eliminated, what is the purpose of a bassoon then?

You are thinking too narrowly. Why do you think the job of a bridge is not in the orchestra?
In the past the Bassoon was used only as a drone bass. Now with more keys it has the ability to play agile low lines better than any other woodwind. There is a whole set of pitches that many composers would use nothing BUT the Bassoon.

The Bassoon is a great foundation for Oboe and English horn (especially when they are playing in their higher register or extremely low register). But perhaps most importantly is the pressure or back-pressure. The pressure the oboe, clarinet, and sax (sometimes in the orchestra) contributes to killing off brain cells. And eventually these instrumentalists have mental issues of all kinds. But, the Bassoon does not create any dangerous measureable back pressure regardless of volume or range. So teh Bassoonist is needed to be the one and only reasonable reeed player. They are the only sane ones there. They will be called upon to interpret for the others who are all crazy.

And I do think the Bassoon is great for blending the strings with the woodwinds.


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Here is quote from "The Technique of Orchestration" by Kent Kennan and Donald Grantham of the University of Texas at Austin.

". . . its characteristic quality is a relatively neutral one so that it is apt to be largely absorbed by any other orchestral it is doubled with. . . . if bassoon is doubled with cellos the cello tone will predominte but will have more body and focus than it would alone."

So I guess Bassoon is like a really good tinted primer.

In regards to the Contra-Bassoon - - -"valuable for adding volume and incisiveness to bass parts where there is heavy scoring. Also good for grotesque effect when played as a solo instrument." So in the ballet I guess we could use it for the troll or the wicked witch.

THANK YOU JOHN! Yeah... what he said. Although I'm not sure how fast we can play low notes, but for the most part its pretty accurate. I believe a better question would be why do we have contrabassoon? I understand for bassoon ensembles, and I love the instrument, but is it necesarry?

heh heh, funny idea about the pressure and brain cells, but I do believe that's a scientific fact. As for the contrabass, I believe it may be useful for it's strange sound. When the composer needs something just a little wacky, but solid, a contrabass would take care of that need. Other than that,though,the contrabass may just be the by-product of a night in a workshop with booze.

Also many composers have shown the bassoon with its distinctive voice is good as a solo instrument - there are many great concertos & solos in orchestral works from the time of Vivaldi to the present day.
Even in well orchestrated band music the bassoon can have more than just a supporting role.
The trouble is many composers don't seem to recognise this & just leave it on the bass line or inner harmony part - although even a simple bass line can be very rewarding when playing at the bottom of a well orchestrated woodwind section of a work.

great point! I would have to agree that very few composers see the potential as a solo instrument. I think the first true bassoon solo I have seen would be on Dance Macabre, a piece played in many youth orchestras in my area.

Hence the reason why you don't see it happening... you've lost too many brain cells to see your own self-deterioration!

I'm ROTFLOL right now! =) Completely true though... I have killed many brain cells myself, playing oboe for a time.

I don't have to worry. I play the trombone. I'm pretty much at rock bottom in the brains department anyway! (JK, I'm actually pretty much like musicgirl)

However, I do have a great respect for the bassoon. It makes a wonderful sound when it is played well. I have a CD with a bassoon solo on it, "Kum Ba Ya". It's actually quite beautiful, a sound one wouldn't normally expect from a bassoon.

Whoa, usually people just insult us "farting bedposts". Greatly appreciated!

Back pressure? Farting bedposts? I am DOOMED!!!!! Why? you ask. Because when I'm not playing my basson, I'm playing my didgeridoo, and it's all about back pressure!!! AND... it is even more of a farting bedpost than a bassoon. Doomed, I say. I am doomed!

The bassoon also occupies a unique place in the orchestra because it comes closer to the timbre of the human voice than any other orchestral instrument. In fact, the bassoon stop on the organ I used to play was labeled "vox humana".

interesting...has anybody ever used that fact to compose a piece involving a "fake" choir (with the human part being played by bassoon)

this is great. i too am like musicgirl. but i probably dont see myself going crazy because I am too busy singing songs from random musicals.

I love the sound of bassoon (but like any instrument, the player had to know what they are doing) because its not really high but it has a defined sound. Does that make any sense at all?

yup...then again, all of us bassoons must be crazy to attempt an instrument of so much difficulty! Uggggggg...I feel like throwing my bassoon against a wall right now!