Bassoons are regularly found in orchestral and chamber music ensembles. A bassoonist reads music for this instrument in the bass and tenor clefs. The bassoon is known for its distinctive tone and wide range.

Historians consider the dulcian to be the ancestor of the bassoon - the two instruments indeed share many characteristics:

• A double reed fitted to a metal crook
• Obliquely drilled tone holes
• A conical bore that doubles back on itself

It is generally believed that the bassoon was developed by the famous French family of woodwind instrument makers, Hotteterre, during the 17th and 18th centuries.

The bassoon was used as a member of the basso continuo and as such found popularity in opera orchestras in France, and later in Italy and other parts of Europe. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767) wrote demanding solo and ensemble music for the bassoon, and Antonio Vivaldi wrote 37 concerti for it also.