蜜芽传媒

The organiser of International Bassoon Day says the profile of the instrument "needs to be addressed" amid fears it is dying out.

Laurence Perkins, Principal Bassoonist and music tutor at the Royal College of Music in Manchester, said dwindling participation could be linked to two factors.

"The profile has been rather low for really quite a long time," said Perkins. "It's never had the profile as the flute or the clarinet - so that's something that needs to be addressed.

"One of the practical problems is that when young players consider taking up the instrument they find they're a lot more expensive than the flute or the clarinet. Although it has to be said some recent models are coming through at rather lower prices," he added.

This clip is originally from 5 live Drive Monday 3 August 2015.