Clavicorno fagotto (brass bassoon) in B-flat

Unknown

ca. 1888 · Brass, nickel-silver · Musical Instruments

The quest for loud, robust, bass wind instruments led to a number of interesting designs in the 19th century. While the bassoon was adept at playing bass lines, it was not well suited to outdoor band use because of its easily damaged reed and bocal. The clavicorno fagotto was a more durable brass instrument that strove to emulate the sound of the bassoon with its narrow bore and a unique mouthpiece system. The stem of the mouthpiece is notched to allow air to escape into a perforated chamber. This deliberate leakage of air was intended to recreate the buzzy, nasal timbre of the bassoon. The instrument never acheived widespread popluarity.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1888

Medium

Brass, nickel-silver

Culture

Italian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889