The dulcian was not immediately supplanted, but continued to be used well into the 18th century by Bach and others. Some think it may resemble the Roman Facis, a standard of bound sticks with an ax A further discrepancy lies in the fact that the dulcian was carved out of a single block of wood-in other words, a single 'stick' and not a bundle.Ĭircumstantial evidence indicates that the baroque bassoon was a newly-invented instrument, rather than a simple modification of the old dulcian. However, the usual etymology that equates 'fagotto' with ' bundle of sticks' is somewhat misleading, as the latter term did not come into general use until later. The dulcian came to be known as 'fagotto' in Italy. Otherwise, dulcian technique was rather primitive, with eight finger holes and generally one key, indicating that it could play in only a limited number of key signatures. A full consort of dulcians was a rarity its primary function seems to have been to provide the bass in the typical wind band of the time, either loud ( shawms) or soft ( recorders), indicating a remarkable ability to vary dynamics to suit the need. The origins of the dulcian are obscure, but by the mid 16th century it was available in as many as eight different sizes, from soprano to great bass.

Music historians generally consider the dulcian to be the forerunner of the modern bassoon, as the two instruments share many characteristics: a double reed fitted to a metal crook, obliquely drilled tone holes, and a conical bore that doubles back on itself.

Listeners often compare its warm, dark, reedy timbre to a male baritone voice. The bassoon is a non- transposing instrument known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, variety of character, and agility.

Appearing in its modern form in the 1800s, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band, and chamber music literature. * OboeThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher.

Schreiber bassoon serial numbers