Double Reed Woodwinds
Presented by:
Kara Hamm &
Lane Bewley
Bassoon
 A large double reed instrument with a
lower sound than the other woodwind
instruments
The Beginning
Similar to the oboe
First appeared in 1650
End of 1700’s; had 4-8 keys
Heckel family of Germany improved
fingering and tone
 Heckel company is leading bassoon
manufacturer
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The Basics
 Bass member of double reeded
woodwinds
 Did you know…the Italian name for
bassoon is “fagotto” meaning “bundle
of sticks.”
 Most people do not begin on bassoon
because of the difficult fingerings.
Having large hands helps.
Basic Information
 The bassoon is pitched in Concert “C”
Therefore, no transposition is required.
 Music for the bassoon is notated in the
bass and tenor clefs.
 Normal range: 3 octaves from B-flat 1
to E-flat 5.
Construction
 Tube of bassoon is 2.79 meters long, and is
bent to make a height of 1.22 meters
 Consists of a metal crook, or bocal, which
fits into the bassoon
 The reed is placed on the bocal
 The bocal is a metal tube about 13-1/2
inches long
Construction (continued)
 Reeds are made out of cane.
 Most bassoons are made from maple
wood or rosewood
 Some models are now made of ebonite
Sound Production
 Player blows air between the reeds
 Vibrating air inside instrument travels
over 9 feet to the bottom of the
instrument then back to the top where
the sound comes out.
 Each note played has peak intensity of
500 hz
Sound Production (cont.)
 Highest range: throaty
 Middle range: large, full, and mellow
 Lowest range: powerful and heavy
Contrabassoon
 Sounds lower and is about two times
longer than the bassoon
 Because of unusual appearance, it is
sometimes called the “clown of the
orchestra”
History of Contrabassoon
 Made in 1739
 constructed same as
bassoon, but more
compact because of
folded tubes
 Early models had holes
which could be stopped
with pegs to change
the key of the
instrument
Types of Bassoons
 Sarrusaphone: double bass instrument of
woodwind section which was made of brass
and wood and was created by Sarrus, they
are most commonly seen in wind ensemble
and concert band.
 Tenoroon: smaller than the bassoon and it
sounds a perfect fifth higher than bassoon
and it appeared during the nineteenth
century.
Suggested Resources and
Works Cited
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http://www.apassion4jazz.net
http://www.dsokids.com
http://www.mathcs.duq.edu
http://library.thinkquest.org
http://www.bassoon.pe.kr
http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/theso
undexchange
History of the Oboe Family
 First reed instrument
by Egyptians: pressed
barley straws in pipe
with 3 to 4 holes
 12th century: shawm
developed-brought to
Europe from the East
during the Crusades
History (continued)
 17th century
 Oboe invented by Michel Philidor and Jean
Hotteterre
 Used in court of Louis XVI
 Original name was hautbois meaning
“high-wood”
 Gradual modifications brought oboe to
what it is today
Types
There are four members of the oboe
family which cover the soprano, alto,
tenor, and bass ranges. Each of these
are notated in the treble clef. Oboes
usually play melody lines and are great
for playing staccato melodies.
Oboe
 Covers soprano
range
 Pitched in C
 Timbre is focused
and penetrating
 Plays tuning role in
orchestra
Construction of Oboe
 1 foot and 11.5 inches without reed
 Usually made of grenadilla or African
Blackwood
 Sterling-silver or nickel plated keys
 Upper joint, lower joint, bell
 Reed made of blades of cane; sits at top;
connected with a cork
 Narrow conical bore, the hole running
through the middle, that gets wider towards
the bell
English Horn
Second most common double-reed
Tenor version
Pitched in F
Timbre is more mysterious and
sorrowful
 Common for 2nd oboist to switch
between English horn and oboe
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Construction of English Horn
 Larger than oboe
 2 feet and 7.5 inches
without bocal
 Upper joint, lower
joint, and onion shaped
bell
 Uses bocal, a thin,
metal, curved pipe to
which the reed is
attached
Oboe D’amore
 Pitched in A
 Sounds muted and
sweet
 Alto range
 Looks like small
English horn;
constructed like
English horn
Bass Oboe
 Pitched in C, but
plays one octave
lower than written
 Timbre is murky and
atmospheric
 Rarely used today
 Bocal is more
drastically curved
Sound Production
-Double reed goes between lips and is blown
-Reeds vibrate against each other causing
bursts of energy to enter the air column,
which then causes the air column to vibrate
-Pitch is determined by key hole the air
escapes
-The longer the air is in the tube, the slower
the vibrations become resulting in a lower
pitch.
For the Beginner
 The recorder-a great tool for breath
control, finger agility, and reading
musical notation
 Oboes are heavy and very expensive.
Cheaper plastic versions are available
but do not last long.
Motivating Resources
 http://www.musicked.com
 Disney Greats books
Works Cited & Suggested
Resources
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http://www.wisegeek.com
http://www.oboespace.com
http://www.vsl.co.at
http://www.mathcs.duq.edu
http://www.musicked.com
http://www.stagepass.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk
Works Cited (continued)
 http://www.oboe.20m.com
 http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundex
change
 http://www.music.iastate.edu
 http://www.orchestralibrary.com
 http://www.elatril.com
 http://www.scaper.com
…More Resources
 http://www.dsokids.com
 http://www.webreeds.com
 http://www.youtube.com