[mnemonicsloth]

Are there other instruments that are comparably scarce, or is the bassoon a uniquely uncommon specialty?

I'd guess the oboe as the next least popular, but that's probably just because of the joke.

What's the difference between an oboe and a bassoon? The bassoon burns faster.

[LogicHoleFlaw]

The bassoon is in kind of an interesting position because it's used in basically every full symphonic score ever, but uncommonly played. Most universities will have two to five bassoon majors at any given time. There are tons of less commonly used instruments but they are usually played as a side project by another instrumentalist. A lot of bassoonists actually double down on the saxophone which is used rarely in the symphonic context. Myself I alternated between Bassoon and Tenor Saxophone, which was my other love.

The instrument itself plays differently from anything else in an orchestra. It really is a bizarre instrument. And it's an absolute riot to play. The double reed, woody sound, and enormous four-octave range make playing the bassoon a really unique endeavor. The instrument is built out of tune with itself. It takes a certain kind of... distinctive individual to really connect with the instrument. Ask any concert musician - they'll nod and grin when you mention those odd bassoonists.

The closest instrument I can think of in terms of rarity and unusualness is the French Horn. It's really the odd duck of the brasswinds. French hornists are a little more common than bassoonists, but then most instrumentations call for a few more horn players.

Man, this has been a trip down memory lane. What might have been....?