Guide to Bassoon

Here you will find an overview of the bassoon resources at the State Library with search tips.

See also

• Bassoon Internet Resources
• AMEB Bassoon Syllabus 
• Brass Instruments
• Competitions, awards and scholarships
• Music education
• Borrowing

Scores for Loan

The State Library has music for bassoon, contra-bassoon, bassoon and piano, as well as bassoon with other instruments. There is a range of tutors, methods, studies and exercises, a large number of standard repertoire works, and classical and popular arrangements.

A strength of the collection is the varied editions collected of standard works such as sonatas and concerto reductions. Urtext, European, English, American and Australian editions give students choice in interpretation, fingering and other editorial influences. We collect most works listed from Grade 4 and above in the Australian Music Examinations Board syllabus. There is also music for ensembles that include bassoon, from duets to orchestral works.

Reference Material

The reference collection of books, journals and electronic resources includes material on history, technique, construction, composers of bassoon music, bassoon repertoire, bibliographies and reed making.

Recordings

We hold a collection of CDs and LPs that can be listened to on-site. Recordings of different performances of standard works are collected in order to enhance the student's learning experience. You can also listen to tracks using the on-line database Naxos Music Library. There is a small classical loan collection of audio cassettes available.

Searching

All material can be found using the catalogue. You may search by title, but you may not find all copies of the work if you only use one translation of the title, such as Concert piece instead of Solo de concert. Please use our Guide to Searching for Classical Music scores as a starting point. All bassoon music can be found on the shelves at the classification VW.

You may also search by subject. For arrangements, add the term Arranged at the end of the subject. Useful subject searches are:

• Bassoon music
• Bassoon and piano music (and other instruments)
• Bassoon - Methods
• Bassoon - Studies and Exercises
• Concertos (Bassoon)
• Sonatas (Bassoon and ...)

Find information by using the keyword or subject option in the catalogue. Some useful searches are:

• Bassoon 
• Bassoon music
• Bassoon reeds
• Instruction and study
• History
• Bibliography
• Maintenance and repair