Short answers, pulled from the story.
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument that plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It uses a double reed, is composed of six main pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is a non-transposing instrument, meaning that the notes it sounds match the written pitch.
Martin Hotteterre, who died around 1712, is most likely credited with developing the true bassoon. He is believed to have conceived the instrument in four separable sections sometime in the 1650s, which allowed for greater precision in machining the bore compared to its predecessor, the one-piece dulcian.
The two primary forms are the Heckel (German) system and the Buffet (French) system. The Heckel system dominates most of the world and offers greater consistency of intonation and more power. The Buffet system, used mainly in France, Belgium, and parts of Latin America, has a narrower bore and is considered by some to have a more vocal and expressive tone quality.
The bassoon's range begins at B1, the first note below the bass staff, and extends upward over three octaves to roughly G5, the G above the treble staff. Most orchestral writing stays below C5 or D5; a low A extension can push the bottom note down to A1.
Prices for a high-quality bassoon range from US$7,000 to over $45,000. Less expensive student models are also made from materials such as polypropylene and ebonite.
W.A. Mozart's Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K. 191, is often considered one of the most important works in the bassoon's repertoire. Other notable solo works include Carl Maria von Weber's Concerto for Bassoon in F Major, Op. 75, John Williams's Five Sacred Trees, and André Previn's Sonata for bassoon and piano. Igor Stravinsky's opening solo in The Rite of Spring is one of the most recognized orchestral passages written for the instrument.