 A continuo bass is the rule in Baroque music; its absence is noteworthy and often has a special reason, such as describing fragility.The specific character of a cantata or a single movement is rather defined by wind instruments, such as oboe, oboe da caccia, oboe d'amore, flauto traverso, recorder, trumpet, horn, trombone, and timpani.In movements with winds, a bassoon usually joins the continuo group.