75% of players answered correctly.

THE CORRECT ANSWER: He uses a double reed

The bassoon occupies an essential place in the orchestra as the deep voice of the woodwind family. Its main technical characteristic is the use of a double reed, made up of two strips of reed vibrating against each other.Unlike the clarinet which has a simple reed attached to a mouthpiece, the bassoonist must shape and master this small, fragile accessory to produce a rich, woody sound. The tube of the instrument, nearly 2.5 meters long, is folded on itself in a “U” shape to be easy to handle.This complex design gives it a wide range, capable of moving from deep low notes to lyrical and sometimes humorous high notes. The bassoon requires great dexterity, as the player uses all ten fingers, including both thumbs, to operate a sophisticated key system. Its unique sound is often compared to a male baritone voice.