The Orriols/Wietfeld, first half of the 18th C.

This post is the third in a series under the tag "Baroque Bassoon". Click here to see all of the posts under this tag.

Orriols/Wietfeld a415 

An instrument which has only been in production a few years, the Orriols/Wietfeld instrument is in high demand across Europe. Having recently been found in the back of a church in Poland, the instrument quickly made its way to Spain, where it has remained in the hands of the Bonair workshop.

Though much information about the maker is unknown, the instrument is of a design very similar to those German instruments which have survived from the second quarter of the 18th century (Eichentopf, Scherer, etc.). Interestingly, the instrument has an Eb key which is placed on the other side of the long joint, to be used by the left hand little finger (uncommon for bassoons at the time).

It being a new instrument, the Orriols/Wietfeld hasn't appeared in a major recording yet (to my knowledge), but I have found a live performance of Carles Cristobal (who discovered the original instrument) playing a Vivaldi concerto for bassoon. It is very likely he's playing the Wietfeld.

The little finger Eb key

Stay tuned for the next instrument, an original W. Milhouse, c.1800.