Author: BassoonWorks
Date: 2008-08-10 04:45
Whisper keys were only added in the first decades of the 20th century. Consider that key pieces like the Rite of Spring, Scherezade, and all the Tchaikowsky symphonies were written for (and played on) pre-whisper key instruments and you will get a sense of the range.
I was playing a wooden, c, 1900, bassoon yesterday (before they started to line the "wet side" with hard rubber. It had no whisper key, but played easily from low Bb to high Eb. Did the Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsokov solos without diffciculty.
Much of this requires more control of the embouchure (like an oboist or contrabasoonist jumping octaves). Stiff reeds also help with the upper register. Hope that helps!
[ Snipped - GBK ]
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