of 4 octaves. After Almenräder's death in 1843 his business partner, Heckel continued the manufacturing business. Following several further upgrades today's German Almenräder-Heckel bassoon comes with between 25 and 27 keys. It has spread far beyond German speaking central Europe, defining during the twentieth century the international standards for the instrument. Media References Sources Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, by Theodore Baker, Alfred Remy, G. Schirmer, 1919, p. 15. External links 1786 births 1846 deaths 19th-century classical composers 19th-century German composers 19th-century German male musicians German classical bassoonists German male classical composers German music educators German musical instrument makers German Romantic composers Musicians from Wuppertal