So I just had my tryouts for the highest band in my school which I'm already first chair in. I'm not here to talk about how I got nervous and screwed up easy stuff and could possibly loose 1st chair. What I'm here to ask is why weren't there any low notes?! I mean sure cranking out a high Bb can be great, but it can be easily out of tune and doesn't sound nearly as smooth and mellow as a low Bb or any other low notes. I DIDN'T GO BELOW AN F!!! That's were we shine is it not? The beautifull low notes of bassoon just were not used and it was quite annoying. And most of it was above the staff so am I too easily annoyed, or should we be getting music suited to the instrument? (Etudes were from a Weisenborn book but range was not fully accounted for. Scales were baritone and trombone too)

I think you might have good reason to be perturbed.

Try outs are to see what capabilities you have to offer the group. What can you do on your instrument. They should be difficult enough that you don't score 100 on them; but they should show off the enitre range of the instrument, your rhythm skills, and rudiments (like scales etc).

If it is all high notes I don't see how they can fit you into a chair for the music you are going to be playing. Hmmm.

If you notice the two parts (first and second bassoon) in most symphonies, the second bassoon part has all the low notes and the first bassoon part has all the high notes. I suppose they were figuring that lovely low notes are usually fairly easily achieved, and the high notes were the critical ones they were interested in seeing who could do them.

LUCKY!
Personally I hate low notes, but I love the high ones. They sound so majestic and...well...impressive. =)
At least you make it into your band.
Ever since my seventh grade year I have tried out for honor band, and believe it or not, I still have not gotten in once. I'll tell you, I have listened to the bassoons that I compete against, and quite frankly, I can kick thier butts. I just get so tense in auditions that by the time I get to my piece, either the high notes do not come out or I squeak....yeah...worse than a begginning oboe.
Uggggg....