Phagotum

Phagotum [Latinization of It. fagotto], obs. woodwind instr. devised by Canon Afranio of Ferrara ca. 1522, bellows-blown, with connected twin tubes made of a single block of wood in U form, each having a cylindrical bore. The bellows were strapped to the player's arm and fed the instr. through a single beating reed. The tubes, shaped like pillars, were about 53 cm. (21 in.) high and were called “fagoto.” Altogether the phagotum was more like a bagpipe than a bassoon (the bassoon has a conical…