About this book This book is about the instrument which evolved into the bassoon. My original idea was to compile a complete guide to all extant curtals and all known references to their use. This has proved to be an impossible task since not only are new instruments still occasionally found, but also because there are enough references to their use in Spain alone to warrant a whole lifetime researching them all. The chronological and repertoire sections in particular should therefore be regarded as giving representative examples, illustrating the enormous use which was made of these instruments.

The author (on the left) In August 2008 I selected the music and gave an interview for an episode of BBC Radio 3’s The Early Music Show on the early history of the bassoon. For details see The Early Music Show Curtal, Dulcian, Bajón: A History of the Precursor to the Bassoon (St Albans, 2002) pp.303, 147 b/w illustrations & line drawings ISBN 0-9543492-0-2