The bassoon is a double-reed instrument from the woodwind family. It has a long history in Western music, with roots going back to the medieval era in Europe. Today, it is an essential part of symphony orchestras and top wind ensembles. You’ll also hear it featured in soundtracks for movies and TV shows, including Disney’s Fantasia, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Star Wars (with many solos throughout the series), and many more. Here are a few reasons why you should consider playing it:
1. You enjoy deep and rich sounds
The bassoon has a uniquely deep, resonant, and rich tone, playing in the lower register compared to most woodwinds. While not as loud as a trombone, it projects beautifully in a concert hall, sounding dark, woody, and full of overtones that ring throughout the space.
2. You want to make music with others
The bassoon is perfect for musicians who love playing with others and making friends through music. As mentioned, it’s an essential part of orchestras and wind ensembles and it’s always in high demand. Compared to flute or clarinet, the bassoon is much less competitive, greatly increasing your chances of joining groups.
If you’re in school, ask your music teacher—they’ll be thrilled to have another bassoonist. If you’re out of school, local community orchestras, wind bands, and chamber groups are always looking for players. The bassoon is also a cornerstone of woodwind quintets, quartets, and other ensembles, so you’ll never run out of opportunities to play.
3. Potential for college scholarships
Because bassoonists are so sought after, many universities and colleges offer scholarships to both music majors and non-majors for students to play it in their ensembles. Some institutions even offer ensemble courses for elective credit – having bassoon skills is a definite advantage.
4. A versatile and impressive repertoire
Whether you enjoy music from Bach or Taylor Swift, the bassoon has nearly 1,000 years of music written and arranged for it. Many great composers wrote beautiful bassoon parts, and the instrument has been featured in some of the most iconic orchestral works, such as:
- Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring
- Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade
- Dukas – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
- Ravel – Bolero
- Mozart – Requiem
- Margaret Bonds – Montgomery Variations
And the list goes on!
If playing the bassoon interests you, reach out on the contact page and I’ll help you get started. Whether you’re in the Buffalo area or elsewhere, I can connect you with the right resources to begin your bassoon journey.
Lastly, some music!
Here are a few of my favorite online performances that showcase what the bassoon can do. Hope you enjoy!