Drittes Fagott

As Printed on a Score

A staff label for a third bassoon, or part of a change instruction: “nimmt ein drittes Fagott” in a contrabassoon part. On its own staff it reads like the other bassoons, in bass clef at sounding pitch.

How Composers Use It

A third bassoon extends the bassoon choir, adding a harmonic floor or doubling the bass line; write it at sounding pitch like the other bassoons. Often the third bassoonist doubles on contrabassoon, which sounds an octave below written — mark each change clearly and allow time. It is common in late-Romantic scores.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, first movement, contrabassoon staff, m. 316: “nimmt ein drittes Fagott.” — the player switches to a third bassoon, a bar after a ppp.

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