The Complete Handbook of Bassoon Small Parts

Chapter 1: Understanding Bassoon Small Parts

A bassoon is a machine before it is a musical instrument. Pressing a key on the left hand does not directly close a tone hole; it initiates a chain of mechanical events involving levers, rods, pivots, springs, and pads, all orchestrated to produce a seal or an opening at a precise location along the bore. The components that make this chain work are what this book calls "small parts." They are the screws, springs, corks, felt bumpers, pads, and tiny metal linkages that connect the player's fingers to the air column. While a professional instrument's fundamental design is its bore and its wood, its playability is almost entirely determined by the quality and condition of these small parts. A bassoon with a perfect bore but a sloppy, worn mechanism is far less controllable than an older, less refined instrument with a perfectly regulated action.

To understand why small parts matter so much, you must first understand the unique mechanical geometry of the bassoon. Because the instrument is long and the tone holes are drilled at an angle, the keywork is spread over a large surface area. The distance between the tone hole and the key that closes it is often bridged by long rods and complex linkages. For instance, the whisper key, which is operated by the left thumb, must seal a vent hole close to the bocal while the pad is located on a separate key cup. Between the thumb touch and the