I love the sound of a rich voiced bassoon! If I were to do it all over again, I would learn to play the bassoon, or the cello, they are both so delicious. And yet, I learned to play the piano when I was just 9 or 10 years old in the Philippines on a piano that my parents had purchased (and had shipped from the USA). And then after we moved back to the USA years later, and I was a teenager, then I learned to play flute on my momma’s flute, and then played flute in my college marching band. I wouldn’t trade either of those experiences (piano or flute), but I might add to them, with a bassoon or a cello, if I had it to do all over again. 🙂
Many people know about cellos, but few people understand the bassoon. So I thought I would take some blog time and share information about bassoons with all of you.
First off, what is a bassoon? Of course, the photo above shows one. Not surprisingly, the notes/music it plays are in the lower register, low notes.
So that’s what a bassoon looks like.
What does it sound like? Well, here’s a short video of a bassoon playing while the sneaky wolf lurks in the woods where Peter is walking, in “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev. Turn your sound on!
So that’s a bit of how a bassoon sounds and how it’s played.
And then, next question, where did the name/word “bassoon” come from? Well, read on, but understand there is a lot of different information online about the origin of the word “bassoon”. But mostly it seems, the word bassoon comes from French basson and from Italian bassone (basso with the augmentative suffix -one). However, the Italian name for the same instrument is fagotto. And in Spanish, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Serbo-Croatian and Romanian it is fagot, and in German Fagott. “Fagot” is an Old French word meaning a “bundle of sticks”. It’s just a bundle of sticks … doesn’t have anything to do with gay men!! Don’t go there with me or I’ll chew your socks off! Don’t be rude! 🙂 The word “fagot” may have gone WAY astray in modern times and isn’t even properly pronounced correctly in the USA. The correct French pronunciation is something like FAH-go. Maybe more like Fargo, North Dakota, but then let’s not go their either. 🙂 Especially since I lived there too (when I was 3-4 years old).
So … ahem … sorry to get off track there. To continue on with the name/word “bassoon” and what it means and where it came from … there’s also info on some websites that links the earlier meaning for the word bassoon to “one single stick”. In truth, bassoons are carved/created from one single piece of wood. Indeed, the whole bassoon, even though pieces are separated for storage and carrying after the instrument has been created, each entire bassoon was originally and still is crafted from just one piece of wood.
Here is a video of the principal bassoon player of the London Philharmonia Orchestra who tells us about all things bassoon …
Lastly, here (below) is a part of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, 2nd movement, with the bassoon solo … ah but with a LOT of cellos in the very first notes, be still my heart.
So that’s what I know about bassoons, and why I love a good bassoon. 🙂 They often play in the background of musical compositions, but every once in awhile they are front and center, and their sound is so delicious!
What musical instrument do you play? Or wish you could play? Or enjoy listening to? Isn’t music wonderful!
After I finished typing all of this, I thought seriously about what instrument/s I truly would like to play if I really did have it all to do over again, and my answer surprised me.
Bass clarinet, cello, bassoon, french horn, piano.
How about you folks?
Marimba! What hard work but what fun they would be to play. I saw Evelyn Glennie play many years ago in Chicago, maybe around the year 2000? I couldn’t get enough. I think I have every one of her recordings. And she’s Scottish. 🙂
Evelyn Glennie! Be still, my heart. What a fabulous musician. I also had the pleasure of hearing her play in person!
LOL! Amen, Arlene. 🙂 I saw her in person in Tacoma several years ago (with Kristin & Russ). Absolutely amazing musician … and teacher, how she spoke with the audience about the instruments and how she plays, the history of the instruments, etc, etc. And I think she always said “etc” twice … etc, etc … with that delightful Scots accent.
Scottish indeed. 🙂 Nothing could be better, Babe. The daughter of good friends of mine plays Marimba and all other percussion instruments. I’ve seen Evelyn Glennie play and it’s spectacular! I don’t have all of her recordings, only some of them … ok, I’m heading online right now. 🙂
Ok, just have to share this video made by Evelyn Glennie about 16 years ago. She is truly spectacular. And, remember, she is deaf!!
I never had music lessons on any instrument when I was a kid, but I sang in the local small town church choir. My voice wasn’t that good, just a kid they could get to sing. I sing in the shower these days. 🙂 But, if I could play any instrument at all, I’d pick the drums. As a kid, all I ever did was beat on things. My mom said that any time there was music on in the house, radio or TV, I’d be keeping time and adding rhythm, extra rhythm, she was really impressed how I did that. Music is important to me. I don’t listen to news much these days, but I have a great collection of records and play them a lot!!! Thanks. 🙂
Wow, you have old records like I do. I don’t play mine very often but I sure love them when I do. Most of mine are from the 1960s and 1970s, but a few are old records that my parents had. Have you ever had drum lessons, Bill? We are never too old to learn. Bang away on the kitchen counter if nothing else. Spoons and forks! and maybe a couple of pans thrown in. 🙂 whooop!
I have no music background but it seems to me that to be able to play one of those huge church pipe organs would be truly spectacular. I loved the information about bassoons, never had a clue about them, but they are beautiful.
Oh, those huge church pipe organs are wonderful, aren’t they?! And they are complicated since you play with both hands and with both feet! Gosh, being able to play one of those huge church pipe organs would be a thrill. I hope you get to hear them often in your life, June, even just recordings … turn the volume up!
I love bassoon too. It’s one of what I think of as a family of rich, deep sound instruments. Remember when I got to hug a cello a few years ago? That was so cool, but it sure opened my eyes to how complicated cello is to play! Three clefs! But what a sound! We finally have a bassoon player in our community band. Off and on over the years our director has recruited a high school player, but they never come to rehearsals consistently and year to year we mostly didn’t have one. But now we have an adult playing with us! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Just having ONE makes such a difference in our sound.
Yes, I sure remember that cello post of yours, Dawn. I loved it! I was so envious and decided I would find a way to take a cello lesson here at home. But I’ve never done that. Ok, it’s back on my list!! I know you play clarinet, and I’d bet you are really good at that. I love your blog posts about birds and dogs … and I’m always excited when you post about the music you play. More please! 🙂
A really good friend of mine used to play the accordion professionally. Growing up I heard lots of people making fun of accordions, but this guy could make that accordion sing, or cry, or laugh … and you right along with it. It was so beautiful. So if I could chose a musical instrument, I’d like to be able to play accordion like he did. On the other hand, it’s a lot less work to just sit and listen and enjoy. 🙂
Ha! Yep, great comment, Shawn, sure easier to sit and listen than to play. 🙂 And sometimes I think I hear MORE of the music when I’m listening than when I’m playing, since I’m then not concentrating on what I’m doing.
Ah, but accordion. Yes, lots of folks make fun of accordions or think of them just as ump-ah-ump-ah musical instruments. A really good friend of mine in Portland, OR, was a professional accordion instructor … taught many of the professional players who are playing today. Oh my heart, when she played the accordion, you were taken away completely to wherever the music led.
Banjo! I played a little guitar in my youth, nothing very serious. But I love banjo music. Oldest banjo song I know of is Cotton-eye Joe about a black man being beaten so bad. It’s a two-finger banjo tune, simple, but just a perfect banjo tune. In my next life, I’m playing banjo. You watch me! 🙂
Joe, have you ever held or played a banjo? I sure hope so. You sound like you love the sound of a banjo. And you know some of its history. I looked up “Cotton-eye Joe” online and found what I think is a great recording of it … see what you think.
I love the sound of the banjo. I’ll be watching you! 🙂
Oh my, I’d love to play a full size harp. Most of my ancestry is Irish and other stuff like that. I’ve watched so many harp players come through my town, Madison, Wisconsin. It’s so sweet and so strong, and so complicated! But, if wishes came true, I’d be playing a full sized Irish harp. And yet, that Bassoon is wonderful!! 🙂
Part of my ancestry is Irish too, Pat. McNamara from the River Shannon. And oh my word I love the sound of an Irish harp too. Here’s a link to a video made by Janet Harbison, an Irish harpist who teaches professionally.
Just a soft, sweet piano would be lovely. The older I get, the more I want peace. I loved that fireplace/piano video you shared with us. If I could play a piano like that to share with others, oh my, would make my day. Not sure I commented after that blog post, but I love that video. Thank you. Ok, I want two skills!! building a fire and playing the piano. 🙂
🙂 Building a fire AND playing a piano. Two perfectly perfect skills. Thanks Cindy. Here’s to peace.
My granda was Welsh and played the crwth. I suppose you would call it a lyre. It is played with a bow on your lap. I don’t know what happened to his crwth. I would have treasured it.
Henry, my granda was Welsh too! Harl Howell, born in the late 1800’s and came to North America through Canada, then into the USA with his English wife. I bet maybe no one else reading this blog knows what a crwth is, but I do. The word is pronounced “crooth” and it is indeed what we would call a lyre, but played with a bow while the player holds the instrument in his/her lap or against his/her chest. I’ve never heard one played, but I looked them up online and find two videos that I like, but please tell me if you like them, if you think they sound true to how they sounded years ago. It’s great that people have revived the crwth!
First video here …
Second video here …
I love the bassoon too. That Peter and the Wolf solo was really spooky, just like you’d feel if you were walking through the dark woods and fearing that a wolf was about to pounce on you. I too played piano for a few years as a child but it just wasn’t my thing. I listen to lots of music, mostly classical or folk music or women’s music or latin music or celtic music…… harp! Now there’s the instrument that I would play if I could do it all over again. A sweet celtic harp. 🙂
Spooky! That’s a great word for how that music feels to me too. 🙂
Ok, here’s another celtic harp video that I love. Hope you do too, Jamie.
I always wanted to play trombone. My mother told me it wasn’t a “girl’s instrument”. My second choice was trumpet. Same answer. So I took piano and clarinet instead. I was never crazy about either. But I did teach myself to play my dad’s trumpet!
Zounds! 🙂 Do you still have his trumpet? Ever thought of taking a trombone lesson, just for the heck of it? Next time I’m in the Sequim area (or Gig Harbor?), I want to hear more stories! 🙂
Oh, and another reader here from my days at WSU will tell you that one of the best trombone players at WSU when we were there was a “girl”.
Check out this video … 🙂 Don’t tell me girls don’t play trombones!!
One of my mother’s female friends played trombone in the church orchestra. I never heard her say anything disparaging about that.
As to dad’s trumpet- it is currently in the downsizing auction. As a teen, I taught my younger brother to play trumpet. He went on to surpass me, taking first in state in high school, and he still plays!
Ah, downsizing. I’ve been doing that lately too. Some stuff is hard to let go of. But I take photos of those things. Wow, your brother was first in state! Obviously, you were an excellent teacher. And probably a very fine trumpet player yourself. Ok, I am now going to look for girl/women trumpet players online. 🙂
As a complete surprise to me, my son bought Dad’s trumpet in our downsizing auction!
Arlene, of course he would. Of course he would! Of COURSE he would!!! Wow, that is so cool … three generations.