Fagott

As Printed on a Score

Fagott (plural Fagotte) labels the bassoon staff in German scores, abbreviated Fag. or Fg.; Mahler heads it Zwei Fagotte and names single players by number (III. Fagott). It is written in bass and tenor clef at sounding pitch. Changes to and from contrabassoon are printed in the part: “III. Fagott nimmt Contrafagott.”

Also spelled: Fagotte

How Composers Use It

German Romantic scores grew the bassoons from two to three or four, with one player doubling contrabassoon. The bassoon covers the tenor and bass of the woodwind choir, doubles the cellos, and plays grotesque or melancholy solos; Mahler is fond of its sardonic staccato. Write it at pitch, use tenor clef for the upper register, and remember its softest low notes need a light texture to come through.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, fifth movement (Rondo-Finale), bassoon staff (“Erster Fagott.”), m. 413: “III. Fagott nimmt Contrafagott.”, two bars after a ff.

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