The New York Flute Club N E W S L E T T E R March 2001 Remembering Rampal Recollections from Julius Baker, Linda Chesis, Robert Dick, Pryor Dodge, Robert Stallman, and Nancy Toff JEAN-PIERRE RAMPAL (1922–2000) JEAN-PIERRE RAMPAL was born in PRYOR DODGE Marseille on January 7, 1922, where his father, Joseph Rampal, was a ean-Pierre was a very good friend. I right around and he took me back to his professor of flute at the Marseille met him in Paris around 1946 or ’47, mother’s. After dinner, we played flute Conservatory. Jean-Pierre Jwhen he was a flutist with the [Paris trios with his father. Jean-Pierre’s father started lessons with his Opera] orchestra. I helped get him his was his first flute teacher. It was some- father at age 12, but was not man- thing we had in common—my father encouraged to become a ager [at was my first flute teacher, too. A Remembrance professional musician, be- Colbert He made the flute very popular. by Julius Baker Artists]. He would come to New York and he’d cause his mother, Andrée, Once give concerts and use my students in wanted him to become a doctor. [in the ’50s] he invited me to give a the Boismortier pieces. We played a lot DODGEPRYOR masterclass in Marseille. That’s where he together. I have a recording of duets Rampal vividly remem- grew up, and the family still lived there. we played [Eighteenth Century Flute bers finally being allowed to join After the class he offered to drive me Duets, Vols. 1 and 2, Washington 9419/ his father’s master classes at the back to Paris. Halfway there, he asked if 9442], and am thinking of re-releasing Marseille Conservatory, where two ❑ I liked bouillabaisse. I said yes, and he it as a CD. years later he obtained a first prize said, “In that case, let’s go back to in flute. “I worshipped my father and Marseille. My mother makes the best Julius Baker was principal flutist of the New wanted to be like him. In his wisdom, bouillabaisse in France.” So we turned York Philharmonic from 1965–1983. (more on page 4) he permitted me to develop my own style…My father taught me how to nurture my musical talent and also In Concert how to lead my life. He said to walk RAMPAL TRIBUTE out on the stage knowing that you March 11, 2001 are the best, and when you are fin- Sunday 5:45 pm ished and walk off the stage, always James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary know there is someone better. My 100 Claremont Ave. (between 120th and 122nd Sts.) (cont’d on page 7) Program I N T H I S I S S U E Quartet in D minor (Tafelmusik) Georg Philipp Telemann Linda Chesis, Karl Kraber, and Eugenia Zukerman, flutes; Dongsok Shin, harpsichord Remembering Rampal Recollections from six flutists .. 1 Sonata for Flute and Piano Francis Poulenc Biography ...................... 1 Linda Chesis, flute; Colette Valentine, piano From the President ..................... 2 Sonatine for Flute and Piano Jindrich Feld Rampal’s Legacy Marya Martin, flute; Colette Valentine, piano Member Profile ........................... 3 Sonata in A Major Cesar Franck Ann Cecil Sterman Robert Stallman, flute; Colette Valentine, piano Announcements Concerto Joseph B. de Boismortier Flute Fair Announcements ..............2 Linda Chesis, Karl Kraber, Marya Martin, Robert Stallman, and Eugenia Flute Happenings.............................3 Zukerman, flutes, with flutists who attended Rampal’s Nice master class 20/20 Vision? ....................................4 Program subject to change 2 — NYFC Newsletter From the President: Rampal’s Legacy by Patricia Spencer THE NEW YORK FLUTE CLUB INC. rganizing a fitting, celebratory tribute in memory 2000–2001 of Jean-Pierre Rampal, indisputably a giant in Board of Directors O our field, has been exciting, enlightening, and at Patricia Spencer, President times overwhelming. Rampal’s impact has been enormous. Rie Schmidt, First Vice President In the ’50s and ’60s he charted a course (following the .. Barli Nugent, Second Vice President direction of Georges Barrère) building a new public image Jan Vinci, Recording Secretary of the flute as an instrument that could be taken seriously Michele Smith, Membership Secretary in solo artistry. He helped mightily to bring a then relatively Ardith Bondi, Treasurer unknown Baroque repertoire to delight a wider audience. He brought a contagious Darla Dixon joie de vivre to all his music-making, and set a tremendous example of generosity— Katherine Fink contributing performances for the very first Flute Fair of the New York Flute Club Susan Friedlander in 1994 and many more for National Flute Association conventions over the years. Rochelle Itzen With hindsight we can now look back at these accomplishments and see how Svjetlana Kabalin Sue Ann Kahn they contributed to later developments. As the flute gradually becomes more and Gerardo Levy more accepted as a serious artistic voice on the recital and concerto soloist stage, Nancy Toff the repertoire for the instrument is blossoming—composers of today are inspired to Patricia Zuber write some of their best music for the flute. Rampal’s early championing of Baroque Advisory Board works certainly contributed to the subsequent “Baroque revival” and the accompa- Julius Baker nying scholarship which now enriches our experience of that repertoire. Jeanne Baxtresser Rampal’s generosity and joie de vivre have contributed to the growth and success Harold Jones of flute societies worldwide. His contagious spirit is palpable in our own plans for Laurence Libin the March 11 Flute Fair: every colleague or friend or student we have approached Past Presidents has been excited about helping with this event, whose organization would not Georges Barrère .................. 1920–1944 have been possible without the exemplary and much-appreciated efforts of both John Wummer ...................... 1944–1947 Svjetlana Kabalin (who has been truly indefatigable) and Marya Martin. Spoken Milton Wittgenstein ............ 1947–1952 remembrances will be offered by, among others, Michel Debost, Rampal’s colleague Mildred Hunt Wummer ...... 1952–1955 at the Paris Conservatoire. Denis Verroust, Rampal’s biographer, is coming from Frederick Wilkins ................. 1955–1957 Paris to share some memorable stories. The renowned composer Jindrich Feld, who Harry H. Moskovitz ............. 1957–1960 Paige Brook ........................... 1960–1963 composed his sonata for Rampal, will come from Prague. And Pryor Dodge is Mildred Hunt Wummer ...... 1963–1964 lending some of his extraordinary photographs of Rampal for display. Performers Maurice S. Rosen ................ 1964–1967 for the late afternoon concert will include three artists who studied with Rampal at Harry H. Moskovitz ............. 1967–1970 the Conservatoire: Linda Chesis, Marya Martin, and Robert Stallman, playing Paige Brook ........................... 1970–1973 Poulenc, Jindrich Feld, and Franck. Other flutists close to Rampal, including Karl Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1973–1976 Kraber and Eugenia Zukerman, will also be performing. Someone once said of Harold Jones ........................ 1976–1979 Rampal that if you loved the flute, then he loved you. We can all follow his example, Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1979–1982 ❑ Paige Brook ........................... 1982–1983 extending this warmth and excitement to each other during this celebration. John Solum ........................... 1983–1986 Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1986–1989 Sue Ann Kahn ...................... 1989–1992 New York Flute Fair 2001 Nancy Toff ............................. 1992–1995 Rie Schmidt ........................... 1995–1998 Sunday March 11, 2001 8:30 am–7:45 pm Newsletter Katherine Saenger, Editor Union Theological Seminary 115 Underhill Road 100 Claremont Avenue (between 120th & 122nd/Broadway & Riverside Drive) Ossining, NY 10562 (914) 762-8582 More [email protected] We need to hear from volunteers Members who wish to Alice Barmore, Layout/Production NYC area flutists who attended needed!!! have their CDs or publications 125 Christopher St., #4H Rampal’s master classes or for the Flute Fair. available for sale at the New York, NY 10014 performed in his “marathon” Contact: NYFC table at the Flute Fair (212) 675-9706 flute concerts at Carnegie Hall. Renate Jaerschky should contact [email protected] Contact: Svjetlana Kabalin at 845-368-1749. Sandy Church at 212-662-0433. at 212-799-7541. Copyright © 2001 by The New York Flute Club Inc. (See page 8 for more information.) All rights reserved. Svjetlana Kabalin, Fair Coordinator; Marya Martin, Pryor Dodge, and Patricia Spencer, Program Committee. March 2001 — 3 FLUTE Member Profile High School: Essendon High School in HAPPENINGS Ann Cecil Sterman Melbourne, Australia. M A R C H NYFC Member Degrees: B.M. and M.M. in music [1986 since 1998 and 1998, University of Melbourne]. March 13, 2001 Tuesday 7:00 pm Employment: Freelance flutist and Personally satisfying accomplishments: A concert of music by Schickele, Haydn, Bach, and Wechsler performed by David Wechsler, private teacher since Her use of nontraditional healing techniques to help people with chronic health prob- flute/midi wind controller, Sara Wollan, cello, coming to the states in 1998; teaching and Michael Rose, piano/synthesizer. lems that Western medicine can’t help. flute to graduate and undergraduate Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY Graduate Center, students at New Jersey City University. And her flute teaching, about which she 365 Fifth Ave., NY, NY • 7 pm • Free admission. This June she’ll be teaching meditation says “With just the right words to heighten and healing in Ravello, Italy (in Italian!), physical awareness and mindfulness, you March 14, 2001 Wednesday 7:00 pm working with Keith Underwood. can prevent problems that could lead to years of incorrect practice and thinking. Chrissy L. Fong, flute, will present a recital Most interesting recent engagement: I find that tremendously satisfying.” with James Greening-Valenzuela, piano, featuring sonatas by Hindemith, Martinu, Last year, playing with the Philip Glass Muczynski, and Prokofiev. Ensemble in Glass’s film score Powaqqatsi, Typical practice routine: One hour of Qi Gong [Chinese exercises for cultivat- Gershwin Theater at the Conservatory of Music at with the composer at the keyboard.