The dulcian is a Renaissance woodwind instrument that has a double reed and a cone-shaped hollow inside that is folded. It is also known by other names in different languages: English (curtal), German (Dulzian), French (douçaine), Dutch (dulciaan), Italian (dulciana), Spanish (bajón), and Portuguese (baixão).

The dulcian was the earlier version of the modern bassoon. It was popular from around 1550 to 1700, though it may have been created even earlier. By the end of this time, it was used alongside the baroque bassoon before being replaced by it. The dulcian was played in both religious and non-religious settings across northern and western Europe, as well as in the New World.

Construction

The dulcian is usually made from one piece of maple. First, the inside is drilled and hollowed out, and then the outside is shaped with tools. The reed is connected to a metal part called a bocal, which fits into the top of the small opening. Unlike the bassoon, the dulcian often has a flared bell, which is sometimes made from a separate piece of wood. This bell can be covered with a mute, which may be removed or attached permanently. The outside of the instrument can also be wrapped in leather, similar to the cornett.

The most common dulcian is the bass in F, but other sizes exist, including tenor (in C), alto (in F or G), and soprano (in C). There are also larger versions, such as the "quart bass" in C and the contrabass in F. Each dulcian has a range of two and a half octaves, matching the range of a specific singing voice. For example, the bass dulcian plays from C2 (two octaves below middle C) to G4 (the G above middle C).

Evolution

The reed on the dulcian is completely visible, allowing the player to shape the sound and pitch using the way they use their mouth. When the dulcian first appeared, other double reed instruments either had reeds fully covered, like the crumhorn or the bagpipe, or had reeds partially covered by a flap, like the shawm. Some people believe the dulcian replaced the bass shawm because it was easier to handle, while others think both instruments were used together and appeared around the same time.

The dulcian was widely used by the middle of the 1500s. A collection of dulcians in different sizes found in Brussels has a maker’s mark labeled "Melchor" and is believed to be from Spain. Another famous example is a slightly later dulcian in Linz, which has leather covering and a built-in mute. The most commonly copied dulcian was made by Denner around 1700 and also includes a built-in mute. Modern copies of the Linz dulcian produce a smoother sound and reach higher notes more easily. This is even more true for modern copies of the Denner dulcian.

Function and repertoire

The dulcian is a versatile instrument that can play loudly in outdoor bands, softly in chamber music, and expressively with a choir. It was used for playing dance music with other instruments like shawms and sackbuts used by the city watch, in chamber music, and in large choral works from Venice and Germany, such as those by Giovanni Gabrieli and Heinrich Schütz. There are clear parts for the dulcian in sonatas written by Dario Castello.