A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Afranio

AFRANIO, lived in the beginning of the 16th century, a canon of Ferrara, and reputed inventor of the bassoon, on the ground of a wind instrument of his called Phagotum, which is mentioned, and figured in two woodcuts, at p. 179 of the 'Introductio in Chaldaicam linguam' of Albonesi (Pavia, 1539), a work dedicated by the author to his uncle Afranio. The instrument sufficiently resembles the modern bassoon or fagotto to make good Afranio's right; but the book does not appear to contain any account of it.