The bassoon is an incredibly interesting instrument, with a very distinctive sound. It can be used for the most tender moments in its high register... but in the low register it's known as the clown of the orchestra.

"Bassoon" is, itself, an Inherently Funny Word, which helps its role. Often in cartoons it will be used to highlight a particularly slapsticky moment, and can even sound like a hearty chuckle if played right. A low growl on a bassoon, however, can sound like a fart — and contrabassoons can have it even worse at times, since they go even lower! ...