The octavin resembles a saxophone: its range is similar to that of a soprano saxophone. However, the octavin differs in three respects: first, its conical bore has a smaller taper than that of a saxophone; second, its body is made of wood, rather than metal; third, its usual shape is more similar to that of a bassoon, having two parallel straight sections joined at the bottom, with the mouthpiece attached to the top of one section and a metal bell to the top of the other. A few straight octavins exist, having a wooden bell; in this configuration it resembles a tarogato but has a smaller taper.[3] The instrument was produced in B♭, C and F.[4][1] One writer (Altenberg) mentions a bass octavin but no such instrument is known to have been produced. The (written) range of the octavin is from G♯3 to G6.[3]
The octavin was invented in 1881 by Julius Jehring, a bassoon maker.[3] It was later patented in 1893 by Oskar Adler and Hermann Jordan of Markneukirchen, Germany.[5]
The octavin was a commercial failure and is now extremely rare, being considered a curiosity by collectors.[3][6] However, the octavin is memorialized by the organ stop bearing its name.[7] Repertoire for the instrument is scarce: one of the only pieces for the octavin is a sonatina composed by Jeff Britting (b. 1957).[3]
