SPECIAL ISSUE

47TH IDRS CONFERENCE

AUG 28TH TO SEPT 1ST 2018

GRANADA, SPAIN Sophie Dartigalongue performing Jolivet Concerto with the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

the taxis were the cleanest Introduction in the world and the drivers exceedingly honest, the history Contents from The Editor and architecture captivating, the Two years ago I announced at flamenco exhilarating, and then a meeting of the ADRSSA that there was the conference … 4 A Message from Sarah I was going to Granada to attend five days of a multiple number of Roper, IDRS 2018 the IDRS Conference before I sessions to choose from at any Conference Coordinator became too old to travel! given moment of the day. My flippant question “who’s Whatever your interest – baroque/ 6 Granada! coming with me?” prompted early music, chamber music, From The President an enthusiastic and immediate quartets, ensembles, BY DR MARK GAYDON response of “I will!” from more than flamenco, master classes, one person. contemporary repertoire, audition 8 A Double Take on the The idea gained momentum and excerpts, technique, competitions, picked up others from Adelaide performance tips, trying like a snowball rolling down a hill, instruments, trying reeds, selecting BY GRAHAM NORTON especially once the promotional cane, perusing music, instrument accessories – it was all there, and YouTube clip went viral extolling 10 Session Reviews the beauty and culture of Granada. of course, concerts, concerts and more concerts to wallow in. This conference captured the 15 Memorable Oboe hearts and imagination of double The collegiality, common Moments from IDRS reed players the world over and interest and passion for playing attracted some 1200 registrants, double reed instruments was Granada 2018 along with the push to break overwhelming. It is quite a BY LIZ NURTHEN the existing Guinness Book of revelation to be part of an Records for the largest woodwind ensemble of 511 players for which 17 The Venues ensemble ever assembled. no explanation is required. Despite the fact that quite a few could Australia was well represented not speak to each other, we all 20DRS 2018I Double Reed with a contingent of 17 players understood each other – Handel’s Band Concert and Official accompanied by seven partners Music for the Royal Fireworks Attempt at Guinness and family members who were required no explanation, we just World Record also able to register and attend played and all read the same dots events: BY CLARE PAYNE (double of course!!) on the page. Tasmania I personally left Granada on a Julian Bush 21 The Record Attempt – warm summer’s day feeling sated Katrina's Blog New South Wales and exhilarated and thankful that Mark Bruwel I had been part of this magical BY KATRINA ALLEN Liz Nurthen experience. Clare Payne Congratulations to AFOES, the 23 An Interview with Alison Stewart-Klein Spanish equivalent of ADRS, Jonathan Daw Victoria and all of their volunteers who BY JONATHAN DAW Anne Gilby organised a dazzling array of Kaya Mitchell players, concerts and other cultural 25 Session Reviews South Australia events, all run with great precision, Liz Ampt attention to detail and a lot of soul. 27 IDRS Granada – From a Celia Craig & Richard Craig A very warm thank you to Bernd British Perspective Jonathan Daw Moosmann for his generosity BY STEPHEN FULLER Mark Gaydon in lending two and a Josie Hawkes to players from Charles Klein Australia so they could participate 29 Players & Makers Caryl Lambourn in the Guinness World Record Leah Stephenson attempt. 32 Australians in Granada Anne Tonkin A big thank you to all of the Queensland conference attendees who 34 Trade Hall Natasha Kalous contributed photos, snippets and articles for this Granada Special The weather was hot and sunny, Front cover photo Issue. n the tapas plentiful and inexpensive, courtesy of Celia Craig the people friendly and helpful, Josie Hawkes OAM

3 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

A MESSAGE FROM SARAH ROPER IDRS 2018 CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

Thank you so much for coming The conference included I can not give the exact to Granada! more than 300 artists and 51 numbers for the Guinness record for the ‘Largest We were so happy to see so many exhibitors from all over the Woodwind Band’, (double of you from so far away. world, 148 events (concerts, lectures, master classes and reed band wasn't accepted Just to say that we are very competitions), 43 premieres as the category doesn't exist), happy with how successful the as we are still waiting for the (Spanish, European and conference was – there were official announcement from the World) and in the IDRS 2018 1, 545 participants, from 40 Guinness officials.n different countries and five Double Reed Official Guinness continents, ranging from about World Record attempt, 500 Sarah Roper nine to 80 years of age. participants were involved.

4 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

To Granada They Came

To Granada they came A laurel was watered by the Darro, while this river ran to the Genil, when, as a complaint, a distant sound came, sweet like honey, dark like an arcane, handsome, noble, delicate. I stopped my cart and saw that a shepherd was playing the dulcian: he was just a lad who, with his soft melody, won the evening’s heart with his music endeavour. Soon gathered around him a thousand friends: minstrels who came from one and another place. And they met in Granada, in colourful revelry, such excellent musicians that they managed in a few days, to folks’ delight, to make the town known not for its flowery Alhambra or its charming Albaycin, but for this courageous host of the double reed: what a great honour for Spain, what endless bliss! by Ventura Rico Translated by: Gerardo Rodríguez Salas

Reprinted from the IDRS 2018 Annual Conference Program Book

5 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

Granada! From The President Dr Mark Gaydon

6 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

Dear Friends and Colleagues, What could one say about the IDRS 47th Annual Conference Granada, Spain? It could be summed up in one word: WOW! I felt lucky to be a part of the substantial ADRS delegation present for this Spanish-style celebration of all things double reed. From start to finish this was an outstanding and memorable event that undoubtably left an indelible impression on all those who attended and performed. The conference was unmistakably infused with Spanish exuberance and flair. From the sumptuous and gorgeous warmth of Granada itself to the generosity and hospitality Henry and Mark Gaydon of the city’s people, this was an experience that won’t soon be the audience was treated to a feast This was a personal highlight for forgotten. of double reed virtuosity with the many reasons, not the least of which was to simply participate as The opening evening concert City of Granada Orchestra backing an artist at this stunning event. It in Auditorio “Manuel de Falla” up an all star lineup. Notable was also allowed me the opportunity epitomised the spellbinding level of the incredible playing of oboist to share the work of two of our the performances to follow during Ramón Ortega and bassoonist Rie Aussie composers, Gordon Kerry the five days of the conference. Koyama whose performances left and Andrew Schultz and to perform As one approached the auditorium the audience on their feet. a work of my own composition as on foot you passed the former On a personal note, I was honoured a way of saying thank you for the residence of the illustrious Spanish to perform a recital of Australian warmth and openheartedness that composer Manuel de Falla with works for the bassoon in Granada’s my family (who were travelling its panoramic views from on high Salon de Plenos, Auyntamiento with me) received on our journey looking down over the picturesque with the outstanding Granada-born through Spain. old city. Inside the packed theatre pianist Ana Galinda. I hope you enjoy the many stories and the vast array of photos included in this edition. I doubt that anyone who made the trip would regret the extensive effort required to attend. On the contrary, I predict the effort has been compensated many times over by the treasure trove of lifetime memories brought home. Finally I should congratulate the AFOES (Asociación de Fagotistas y Oboístas de España) for the epic success of their conference. It left me wondering if it is time for another IDRS conference in Australia? Only time will tell! n Dr Mark Gaydon

Mark Gaydon & Alison Heike 7 A DOUBLE TAKE ON THE DOUBLE REED

It was the 47th Annual and international conferences as being the cultural capital of Conference of The International and whilst one could assume Australia not to mention being a Double Reed Society – think they would be different from UNESCO city of music. oboe, and bassoon. a professional musicians’ I was registered as a “family conference, there were A Layman’s Explanation of member” being a non-player. remarkable similarities. the Double Reed It was an eye opener to realise Nevertheless, I accompanied As kids, I am sure most of us that beneath the black dress a great Adelaide contingent of made grass whistles. In Spring, double reed players. Here is or tails at a formal concert, the as the long moist stems of my perspective as a medical bassoon players are harnessed green grass appeared rampant practitioner of the events in up. like along paths and creeks, Granada, slightly tongue in cheek A representative day’s we would break off a stem Double Reed musicians are events show hundreds of then gently coax the inner, readily recognisable as they instruments on display as well hollow tube out of its fibrous appear to be speaking out of the as maintenance equipment and outer coat, cut it neatly at both corner of their mouth, whispering, reed-making tools. At a medical ends, then flatten one end with almost as though they are sharing event the sponsors would be fingers and teeth, so to create some juicy gossip about the ‘big pharma’ and the tools would our very own whistle. Its pitch Principal Double Bass who was be surgical. and tone could be influenced by rumoured to be dating the newly There was a feast of evening the diameter and length of the appointed Principal Oboe. Worse concerts in wonderful grass tube. still they appear to be dragging performing spaces, so many, Well, without making too fine on a virtual cigarette, again out that I sometimes wondered why a point of it, that’s a double of one corner of their mouth, like the city of Adelaide considerably reed, as far as I can discern. a macho cowboy from Arizona or larger in population than What truly amazed me was the Spain of course. Granada, could not match the technology that now abounds to As a medical professional I have size, beauty and number of halls, create a musician’s double reed attended my fair share of local especially as we pride ourselves out of a piece of cane.

8 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

There were numerous stalls and and whisper in hushed tones Finally, having befriended a displays of beautiful miniature about the Professor of Medicine few double reed musicians of lathes and microtomes that from London who now travels considerable talent, I am of the would not have been out of place the world as a consequence firm opinion that they, on average in a World Congress of Swiss of discovering a relationship • Perform for half an hour Watchmakers. between epilepsy and ingrown • Practice for half a day If, however your preference is toe-nails. • Take half a year to create a haberdashery, then wander to At a Double Reed conference, double reed they actually like the next stall where there will be the adulation is for the Professor • Talk about the machinations of displayed a veritable rainbow of of Oboe at the Conservatorium double reed making for years. cotton thread, spools and various of Music in Lecce, who playing a miniature tools to sew, splice carbon fibre instrument with a 3D Finally, the massed orchestra and spin around the end of your printed plastic reed, has solved was well and truly planned as an double reed. the anatomical impossibility attempt to set a new world record Books that exceed the Bible of triple tonguing and circular for the Guinness book. in length discoursed on the breathing concurrently. I am told As an associate registration, ‘Double Reed’. Indeed, the this is a basic requirement for I attended the side events: example is a mere 785 pages on any virtuoso performance of the paella cooking, flamenco ‘Understanding’ the Double Reed. Strauss Oboe Concerto. dancing classes and a lecture on “Alternate fingering of the Surely, I thought the analogy to Sadly, the tall poppy syndrome Castanet”, as well as being in my childhood grass whistle has exists in both medicine and the audience with thousands of covered the basics sufficiently? music. Sore medical losers claim Granadans. It was quite one of At a medical conference, over that an association between the most memorable and joyful lunch, we discuss and share epilepsy and ingrown toe-nails a events, the penultimate concert of cases: strange, undiagnosed much rarer syndrome had been the massed double reeds: , dilemmas, new technologies published in the Lancet only cors anglais and bassoons of all and machines that allow us to seven months before, whilst the ranges bringing me almost to the see inside the human body. At double reed nitpickers, claim that point of tears. a double reed society, I gather for all his skill, his trill technique Being held in Granada, the most discuss, share and compare was not as great as before, encore was entirely predictable the vagaries of finding or making blaming the carbon/plastic and appropriate. n their own double reed. catastrophe that he deemed to At a medical conference, we gaze call an oboe. Graham Norton in awe across the auditorium

Main photo: View from Alhambra. Above L-R: Flamenco Dancer; Granada view.

9 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

SESSION REVIEWS

Arek is currently the Professor of Bassoon at the Paderweski Academy of Music in Poznan where he completed his Ph. D. on British contemporary music. He regularly appears as guest principal bassoonist with various orchestras in the UK and Poland. In 2018 the British composer Adrian Williams dedicated his latest bassoon concerto “Spectrum” to Arek. At his recital he performed another piece by Williams, the Sonate for bassoon and piano (1996) in a confident and authoritative way. The lyrical lines were sweet and expressive and these contrasted Thursday 30 August beautifully with the more edgy Tuesday 28 August Arek Adamczk: Works by sounds. Michal Spisak’s Concerto Williams and Spisak in C Major was quirky and elegant Celia Craig: Our Home Planet and a delight to hear. Michal Sonate for bassoon and piano Francuz’s accompaniment of these Sonata for oboe and piano (2015) (1996) most challenging pieces was at all I. Our Home Planet time discreet yet energetic. They I. Energico II. The Human Imperative to Explore have obviously played together II. Grave III. The Outer Reaches of the before! III. Vivace Universe IV. Allegro Directly after the conference, Arek Stuart Greenbaum (b.1966) wrote: Adrian Williams (b.1956) GRT Editions, distributed by Max Eschig “The IDRS convention in Granada Australian Music Centre has just ended. It has been Tiles of the Alhambra for solo cor Concerto in C Major (1943) my first IDRS convention and anglais (2006) I. Allegro moderato I am still totally mesmerised II. Andante by the experience. Beautiful Carlos Miranda (b. 1945) III. Allegro place, fantastic people, great Self published Michal Spisak (1914-1965) organisation and customer service, Ricordi inspiring concerts, lectures and I was interested to meet Celia, not masterclasses. Great privilege to least because she grew up in the have given a recital here. Special I was thrilled to meet Arek same part of the world where I thanks to my pianist Michał Adamczk in Granada. I have live, in Northamptonshire, England. Francuz who flew over just for been a fan of Pracownia She started out first as a recorder one day to play with me. All in the Fagocisty YouTube videos for player and then later as an oboist audience unanimously commented some time (see link in last with the Northamptonshire County on his exceptional playing of edition of Reeding Matter) and Youth Orchestra - coincidentally this most demanding repertoire. it was he who established this where my son, Will, has just And great fun to have been prestigious annual bassoon finished his tenure as Principal among 511 players taking part festival in Poznan, Poland. He Bassoon. in establishing a new Guinness has won several international For her performance at the IDRS World Record. It was so good to bassoon competitions in Poland. conference, Celia played two see all the instrument and reed He graduated with distinction pieces under the umbrella of makers. What an inspiration. Can't from the Royal College of Music ‘Our Home Planet’. The first was wait for the next year in Florida” n where he studied with Andrea ‘Sonata for Oboe and Piano’, di Flammineis and Martin Gatt. Caryl Lambourn (2015) by Stuart Greenbaum.

10 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

The second was ‘Tiles of the is evoked by this music. It also Alhambra’ (2006) for solo makes me think of reflections in cor anglais written by the film water, it’s a watery piece”. composer Carlos Miranda. Personally, I found both of these I caught up with Celia after her pieces stimulating and inspiring. performance and asked her what Celia’s interpretation sounded so inspired her choice of pieces. She effortless. explained why both were very As a newcomer to playing the relevant to the setting of Granada. oboe myself, I am in awe of Celia’s Tuesday 28 August Celia first met composer Stuart command of her instrument. Does Greenbaum, Professor and Head she have any tips for me, a new Musica Argentina Para Cuarteto of Composition at Melbourne beginner? De Fagotes: Cuarteto de Fagotes de Cordoba University, when they were both “Yes! The two most important volunteering as coaches with the things are your and Alejandro Aizenberg, Carlos Gabriel Australian Youth Orchestra. At that your fingers. Your embouchure Arias Sánchez, Gonzalo Brusco & time, Stuart was writing a series should be such that you can’t Fabián Contreras, bassoons of sonatas, each spotlighting see any part of your lips when a different solo orchestral looking in the mirror. And your Huayno del diablo* (2006) instrument. He hadn’t yet written fingers should be very curved, it’s Jorge Fandermole (1956) Lucho González a composition featuring the oboe. the only way you’ll get around the (1946) However, inspiration struck, and instrument. Play with the tips of Suite Argentina* (1990) three months after meeting Celia, your fingers”. Juan Carlos Cuacci (1945) Stuart presented her with his So, what’s next for Celia? She Huella y Gato* (1912) Sonata for Oboe, written with her explains, “I am keen to reach as Julián Aguirre (1868-1924) in mind as the soloist. many potential oboe students as TrevCo Music Publishing ENO pianist David Barnard possible. Some parts of Australia Danzarín* (1957) collaborated with Celia on the are so remote that there isn’t an Julián Plaza (1928-2003) piece, and on the 24th of April oboe teacher for miles. I want to A Don Agustín Bardi* (1963) 2017, they performed the premiere reach the young people who don’t Horacio Salgán (1916-2016) at Melba Hall, bringing tears to the have access to a teacher and who Muerte del Ángel* (1962) eyes of composer Stuart. don’t yet play. I am passionate Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) about bringing the oboe to Celia says, “This is an emotional TrevCo Music Publishing young people. I am not sure piece, full of imagery. It’s *All works are arranged by Gonzalo what form it will take yet. I am an instinctive thing. I have Brusco. Self published. considering perhaps setting up a synaesthesia, so pictures, colours YouTube channel, or some form of and music all come together downloadable videos on demand. An entertaining and scene-setting for me. When I play this sonata, It’s an idea in progress”. performance as my introduction pictures form in my head of the to the conference, this quartet Alhambra, of Arabic voices calling It was a pleasure to chat with presented a program of Argentinian n out, of deserts, and colourful Celia. She is an inspiration. music that could be described as Arabian carpets. It’s very pure, Donna Rowan Gold relatively 'recent' in musical terms, especially the first movement. It’s spanning the time period from fresh and clean”. 1957 to 2006. The second piece, “Tiles of the The line up of players featured a late Alhambra” was written by Carlos inclusion, but this was not obvious Miranda specifically for Celia to to a well-informed audience. play, and dedicated to Rafael Perez A lot of very tight ensemble playing Gomez, Professor of Mathematics through several pieces with great at the University of Granada. rhythmic complexity, technical virtuosity and a real passion for “For me, this piece describes the Argentinian music on display, the mathematical repetition of the tiles program introduced me to a whole found in the Alhambra Palace”, new world of bassoon quartet Celia explains. “There is a beauty repertoire that deserves future in the repetition which I appreciate exploration. n the more I play this music. There Josie Hawkes are some amazing patterns and a certain symmetry in the tiles, which Alhambra gardens continued over page …

11 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

SESSION REVIEWS CONTINUED

The oldest piece on the program different activities on the last was written in 1990 with the day of the conference. Having youngest piece being written in played in the Double Reed Band 2017. the night before in the eleven- All four pieces are memorable strong contrabassoon section, my for the textures and sonorities resolve wavered when the German created but my overall impression university student I shared a stand is that of marveling at the skill with, Thomia, said that she would be performing in her university Tuesday 28 August and technical prowess of the four players – Lynn Hileman, ensemble the next day. Dark In The Song: Escape Peter Kolkay, Saxton Rose and Thomia is already a highly Lynn Hileman, Peter Kolkay & Michael Harley – who gave an accomplished contrabassoonist Saxton Rose, bassoons | Michael intense, purposeful and virtuosic – she had fallen in love with the Harley, bassoon & contrabassoon performance. n instrument when she was fifteen Josie Hawkes years of age and gone straight Sleep Dances from 2 Henry IV for home to tell her parents this was four bassoons (2016) her instrument and she needed Brad Balliett (b.1982) one of her own! Self published I attended the performance and Sunburnt for four bassoons (2017) heard excerpts from Pictures At Takuma Itoh (b. 1984) An Exhibition and the Brahms- Self published Haydn St Anthony Chorale Milky Slicks for four bassoons Variations. It was a well-rehearsed (1990) ensemble led by Professor Malte Chiel Meijering (b.1954) Refardt, teacher of the players Donemus Saturday 1 September in the ensemble, and featured a Escape for three bassoons and Folkwang Fagottissimo: lot of accomplished and polished contrabassoon (2015) Bassoon Studio of Folkwang playing. Elliott Grabill (b. 1983) University of the Arts, Essen, I was most impressed with the Self published Germany beautiful, expressive playing in Prof. Malte Refardt, Anton the St Anthony Chorale Brahms Once again a bassoon quartet Engelbach, Leonie Hadulla, Ermal –Haydn Variations, full of subtlety concert (with one player doubling Jaho, Felix Parlasca, Paula Richter and careful attention to detail and on contrabassoon) but this was & Yuto Suzuki, bassoons all underpinned by the sonorous completely different from either Thomia Ehrhard, contrabassoon contra playing of Thomia. of the two performances I had attended that morning. This arrangement, self-published Variations on a theme by Haydn, by David Schumacher, is a gem I have to confess that I am not Op.56a for 4 bassoons and and worth trying to procure. n a devotee of contemporary contrabassoon bassoon ensemble music but I do Josie Hawkes Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) admire the dedicated and serious (arr. David Schumacher) approach to the commissioning Self-published and promotion of new works by these players. Pictures at an Exhibition for 4 bassoons and contrabassoon A lot of detailed rehearsal went into the program, along with Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) a huge amount of personal (arr. Dag Jensen) preparation to meet the technical Self published demands of the four pieces – stratospheric high notes, super- I had reached a decision that my human control over dynamics, obsession with bassoon quartets lightning tonguing, pitch bending, and bassoon ensembles had rhythmic complexity … and the list almost reached the embarrassing goes on. level and I should attend some Stunning Alhambra architecture

12 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

was even more haunting than divine pizzicato effect the bassoon when played with the original can produce. The flexibility of the instrumentation. instrument came to the fore as the The last two movements provided bassoon was able to mimic all of more double reed excitement with the melodic and rhythmic elements the contra bassoon triple tonguing of the original score. the original timpani sextuplets Incredible playing from the evenly at the start of the March to the matched members of the quartet Scaffold and the bassoon playing (the Leitzinger boys!), a little raw the crazy E flat clarinet solo in the at times as some of the sections Saturday 1 September Witch’s Sabbath. rated up there as some of the most Leitzinger Bassoon Quartet The whole recital was a showcase difficult passages I have ever heard Plays Symphonie Fantastique of technique, musicianship and but one of the most insane and Teodor Naumov, David Petersen, stamina. uplifting performances I have ever Dominik Schulz and Karl Ventulet, heard – it was truly fantastique! n I’m so glad I was able to be there bassoons and enjoy it. n Josie Hawkes I. Rêveries, Passions Liz Nurthen II. Un Bal III. Scène aux champs Call me ‘Queen of the Bassoon IV. Marche au supplice Quartets’, having attended quite a V. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat smorgasbord of them during the Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) conference, but this performance (arr. Dominik Schulz) took the cake! TrevCo Music Publishing Sheer madness. Yes, the Leitzinger Bassoon On the last day of the conference, I Quartet performed an Wednesday 29 August decided to broaden my horizons by arrangement faithful to the entire Mozart International Chamber going to a bassoon recital. Berlioz symphony. Just imagine Players: Wind Divertimenti of I have to admit that I thought this the string parts, the percussion Mozart performance would be a miniature parts, the brass and the upper Marc Fink and Sarah Roper, oboes | version of the original symphony woodwind parts reduced to four!!! Vicent Giménez Pons and María for large orchestra. At the end I picked my jaw up Fernández Bueno, cor anglais | How could four bassoons possibly from the floor and applauded until Leonard Hindell and Joaquín Osca do the work justice? …Well they my hands hurt. I was astounded Pons, bassoons did in an absolutely brilliant and at the virtuosity and the sheer virtuosic full-length performance. physical workout as they cackled Divertimento No. 8 in F Major, The quartet consists of principal and trilled their way through the K. 213 (1775) bassoonists from some of Witches Sabbath, shrieking Eb I. Allegro spiritoso Germany’s leading orchestras. clarinet parts in evidence. II. Andante They all play custom bassoons The contrabassoon produced an III. Menuetto made by Stephan Leitzinger eerily accurate representation of IV. Contredanse en Rondo and have been referred to as the percussive timpani rumblings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “magnificent bassoonists and to begin the March To The (1756-1791) musicians “. Scaffold, not to mention the Breitkopf & Härtel They are also versatile. In the 3rd hauntingly beautiful answer from Divertimento No. 14 in B-flat Major, movement (scene in the fields) for offstage during In The Country. K. 270 (1777) example, two of the bassoonists This drew a heretical observation I. Allegro molto played cajóns (box shaped from an oboist in the audience II. Andantino percussion instruments that are who marveled that Berlioz didn’t III. Menuetto played by slapping the sides with write it for the bassoon in the first IV. Presto the hands) to produce the rumbling place as it sounded much better sound of distant thunder. The than on oboe! Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart duet normally played by the off Bassoons mimicking harps in (1756-1791) stage oboe and cor anglais was Un Bal – all the more ironic as Breitkopf & Härtel a highlight. The sound of the two the bassoons are tacet in this bassoons calling to each other movement in the original. What a continued over page …

13 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

SESSION REVIEWS CONTINUED

This concert was unashamedly It was refreshing and exciting to pure enjoyment for both the hear such youthful exhilaration as players and the audience – a they played their way through a delicious 30 minutes of Mozart program of music with which they showing off the tone colours of obviously had a strong connection. the oboe, cor anglais and bassoon The ensemble had a very good to perfection. rapport and communicated well with a different player leading In the spirit of musical friendship, each piece on the program. players from the US teamed with players from the host country, After the traditional Dvorak Furiant Spain, to form this ensemble for Tuesday 28 August had captured the attention of the the conference, swapping parts Recital by The Bassoonion audience, the remainder of the program was almost cinematic in between the two Divertimenti in a Au Kai-See Tiffany, Chan Ting- show of respect for each other. genre – a Bassango (a type of Yuen Timothy, Cheung On-Ki bassoon tango) and medley of Probably composed between Angel, Lee Wai-Ching Vivian, Lee popular themes from Hong Kong the years 1775 and 1777 as Wai-Yee Wyee, Liu were unfamiliar works to most Tafelmusik (dinner music), these Tsz-Ho Hoho, Liu Tung-Bo Tommy, of the audience – but it was a Divertimenti (K. 213 & K. 270) Liu Tung-Yau Tony, Ng Ka-Ming reduction of a piece of Chinese are considered to be part of a set and Yim Ho-Yan Cherry, bassoons music arranged for western of five companion compositions orchestra titled Dance of the Yao for wind sextet, that is, two oboes, Hong Kong Medley Tribe, that really took centre stage. two horns and two bassoons, but Varied Artists The bassoon ensemble it is most fitting at a gathering of (arr. Ng Ka-Ming (b.1994) arrangement by Yim Ho-yan double reed players to substitute Bassango (a member of the ensemble) cor anglais for the horn parts. Mathiew Lussier (b.1973) explored the percussive Played with great elegance and Lucian Badian Editions capabilities of the bassoon style, it was a pleasure to hear through the tribal dance motifs, some legendary players bring their Slavonic Dance 8. Furiant in G minor compelling the audience to listen, interpretation and breathe life Anton Dvorak (1841-1904) and voicing the many parts to into these timeless and enduring (arr. Detlef Reikow) effectively create a variety of cornerstones of wind repertoire. n Accolade Musikverlag textures and tone colours. This arrangement is worthy of wider Josie Hawkes Dance of the Yao Tribe exposure in the world of bassoon Liu Tieshan (b.1923) & ensemble playing and would be a Mao Yuan (b.1926) lively addition to any program. (arr. Yim Ho-yan (b.1994) Overall this concert was an exciting and exuberant performance An intriguing and ambiguous that was extremely slick, of a title, but this turned out to be high technical standard and a bassoon ensemble of eleven demonstrated thorough rehearsal players from Hong Kong who and preparation, along with rotated around parts and providing a cultural education. n also between bassoon and Alhambra archways contrabassoon. Josie Hawkes

Alison Stewart-Klein with Yukio Nakamura, aka Josef “Josef was briefly a colleague of mine in the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, way back in 1985. It was actually another member of our group, cor anglais player Rudi Blanke, who decided to christen him Josef, a name which he liked so much that he kept it when he returned to Japan and started making his own line of oboes.” Alison Stewart-Klein

14 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

MEMORABLE OBOE MOMENTS FROM IDRS GRANADA 2018

Here are just a few memories Tuesday 28th August was the from each day at the conference first day of the conference and from an oboist’s perspective. in the afternoon, Celia Craig, Actually, the program was so Principal Oboe in the Adelaide full that it was often difficult to Symphony Orchestra, performed a very atmospheric recital decide where to go and what entitled “Our Home Planet“. to hear … and of course there The name is taken from one was always the distraction of of the movements of a Sonata many trade tables where there for oboe and piano composed was so much noise with people for her by Stuart Greenbaum in trying instruments that it was 2015. She also played another really hard to think! work for solo Cor anglais written especially for her in 2006 by Carlos Miranda aptly titled “Tiles of the Alhambra“… lots of musical images here and beautifully played, in spite of jetlag and no luggage. Next day, Wednesday 29th I did a morning tour of the Alhambra with Celia’s Cor solo still playing in my ears .The tiles, decorative plasterwork and gardens are remarkable works of art. It’s easy to understand how the Alhambra has provided inspiration to artists and musicians over the centuries. Thursday morning the 30th was our first rehearsal for the double reed band. It was lots of fun and scary too with so many excellent players, plenty of heat and an hour and a half rehearsal standing up!

continued over page …

15 JULY 2018 • VOLUME 21 • ISSUE NO. 2

Luckily I survived and was later able You could almost picture the audience was very excited and he to go to a thrilling performance impressionist paintings that the received a standing ovation. This of CPE Bach’s Sonata in A minor work is based on, through the was a real highlight for me. for flute solo arranged for oboe. varying tone colours she was able It was really inspirational to hear Robert Silla, Principal Oboist of the to achieve. so many different styles of oboe Spanish national Orchestra, was the Sadly, Saturday 1st September playing and learn about new soloist. This was a very avant garde was the last day of this amazing repertoire. What a privilege to be able to travel to Granada for this interpretation and quite theatrical, conference, and you may think fabulous conference. with gestures emphasizing the that it would be difficult to top the structure of Bach’s music. previous evening’s experience of Thank you IDRS and AFOES. n On Thursday night there was playing with 511 double reeders! Liz Nurthen a wonderful performance of Zelenka’s Sonata No.6 in C minor with Gordon Hunt and Sarah Roper (oboes) and Catherine Larsen – Maguire (bassoon). Friday 31st was the day of the Guinness Book of Records Attempt but before that get together at 11pm, there was a memorable performance of the Silvestrini 6 Etudes for solo oboe by Katherine However, Sebastian Giot, soloist Needleman, Principal Oboe of the with the Strasbourg National Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Philharmonic, performed an apparently conventional and well-known program of the 3 Romances by Schumann and the Sonata for oboe and piano by Poulenc. The playing and musicianship were extraordinary! It was like hearing the pieces through new ears for the first time. The whole

16 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

THE VENUES

Clockwise from top left: Ayuntamiento Courtyard; Manuel de Falla Auditorium; Ayuntamiento; Teatro Isabel la Catolica; Ayuntamiento Courtyard; Teatro Isabel la Catolica. 17 Charles Klein

Liz Nurthen

Josie Hawkes

IDRS 2018 DOUBLE REED BAND CONCERT (AND OFFICIAL ATTEMPT AT GUINNESS WORLD RECORD) Photo credit: www.ideal.es IDRS 2018 DOUBLE REED BAND CONCERT (AND OFFICIAL ATTEMPT AT GUINNESS WORLD RECORD) Julian Bush Leah Stephenson Liz Ampt GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

Caryl Lambourn Anne Tonkin

IDRS 2018 DOUBLE REED BAND CONCERT AND OFFICIAL ATTEMPT AT GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

Granada comes alive at night (at least four oboe parts, four Granada turned out en masse and never more so than on bassoon parts, cor anglais and to witness the event, and as Friday August 23, when 511 contra) and his enthusiasm the 511 players were carefully double reed players took to was infectious. Many new counted into position the the stage in an official attempt friendships were made as we steps of the PCGR filled with to set the Guinness World shared a music stand or rubbed onlookers. Records for the largest ever shoulders with others and the At 11pm the baton fell at a woodwind ensemble, the anticipation grew as our World lively tempo and we began largest oboe ensemble, largest Record attempt T- shirts were with a spirited arrangement of bassoon ensemble and largest handed out and the individual Handel’s Music for the Royal cor anglais ensemble. parts became an ensemble. Fireworks. The concert included In typical Granada fashion, a World Premiere of ‘Capriccio The 2018 IDRS Conference was the Official World Record Noir’ by Daniel Baldwin and a five-day fest of memorable attempt took place at night, finished at midnight with a concerts, lectures, masterclasses from 11pm, under floodlights double reed band version of and recitals and the Double Reed on the Explanada, in front of Augustin Lara’s ‘Granada’ Band concert was one of the the Palacio de Congresos de arranged by our conductor. highlights for those who took part. Granada (Conference Centre). A nervous wait erupted into All participants were required to We gathered at 9pm to be cheers and jubilation as 511 attend at least two rehearsals grouped in ensemble parts bassoons and oboes were during the week. “No problem!” prior to our sound check. The raised aloft. you might say but with 300 or anticipation and excitement The World Records had been more players crammed onto a were palpable and the sound smashed! n concert hall stage in 38-degree check morphed into a full Clare Payne heat, and standing for the 90-minute rehearsal, but by 90-minute rehearsal, it was a test this time a cooling breeze had *Please note that we have received of one’s stamina and resilience! kicked in and the temperature word from the Conference Conductor, José Antonio had dropped to a comfortable Coordinator that IDRS/Afoes is still Masmano Villar, star oboist of 30 degrees. Augmented by awaiting official confirmation of the the 2018 Granada promo video, local musicians on percussion number of players from Guinness skilfully held all the parts together we were ready to roll. officials – The Editor

20 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

THE RECORD ATTEMPT KATRINA’S BLOG

Thursday and Anne is up and off to her first rehearsal for the Double Reed Band, which is to attempt the Guinness World record for massed double reeds. Anne saunters back from her rehearsal marveling at the way 500 diverse individuals, from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, can effortlessly communicate over a musical score.

The city congress centre’s Suddenly it is 11 and a jovial upper storey terrace arcs over MC starts the proceedings a main road and spills out into with a rousing and very funny a riverside park in a cascade of speech. It’s in Spanish so we concrete steps. Opposite the miss most of it but the crowd, steps is a huge area temporarily which has now swelled to the fenced off and bristling with capacity of the steps, roars music stands with sheets of happily. The official attempt music on them. We arrive at begins. 10.40pm and the steps are well There is a sort of cattle chute filled with a chattering audience at the front of the fenced off already. We opt to sit on the music stands, just in front front steps and plonk down of the podium. Two yellow- onto the warm hard concrete, shirted IDRS volunteers stand tucking our knees up under us. in front of the two formally

Friday is R Day: at 8pm Anne heads off, shining in her white record attempt T-shirt, trusty Felix (the Fox bassoon) in hand. She has to check her section (4th Bassoon) is present and correct and then they have the sound check for their open-air concert which starts in very Spanish fashion at 11pm. My friends and I go out into the hot night, the city teeming with the local people occupying every little sidewalk Jonathan Daw restaurant. After a fairly rapid dinner, including some delicious battered eggplant, we hot foot it back to the conference centre, locating the performance site from the buzz of the audience heard above the traffic.

21 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

(white shirt, tie and jeans - every cheers wildly. All 168 bassoons get and then we start seeing a series one else is in thongs and t shirts) through to their music stands and of Mexican waves which spreads dressed Guinness officials. The the crowd rises to a crescendo for into the band and produces first a volunteers hurry the approaching the 11 enormous porcupine of oboes, then a forest musicians into a single file with the (one under the control of Josie of bassoons held deliriously aloft. application and precision of kelpies. Hawkes) which settle, like a herd Then the moment of truth - the The oboes approach first, a of elephants in the afternoon sun, MC receives the official envelope fabulous conglomerate of sizes, at the feet of the conductor. He is from the larger of the 2 yellow shapes, ages and genders, and file a dark-haired Spanish man in jeans shirted kelpies: he fumbles with though to be officially counted: all and a t-shirt (the official IDRS the flap, pulls out the paper to a 232 of them. A short delay while t-shirt) and the crowd hushes as he sudden hush and announces “and the two officials compare counts raises his baton. the winner is ... Antonio Banderas.” then the 100 assembled cors He addresses the crowd briefly in Shouts of laughter and disbelief anglais are filed through by the Spanish and then launches into and then finally the jubilant kelpies. the Fireworks Music which was confirmation that the Guinness The officials confer and then the composed by Handel for a band World records for massed oboe, bassoons are led on by none including 12 bassoons and 24 bassoon, and cor anglais bands other than Anne Tonkin, appointed oboes specifically to create the and the overall massed double reed organiser of the fourth bassoon volume of sound needed for an band has been achieved at this section; we roar approval (lost unamplified outdoor concert – concert. in the general cacophony of the Handel’s grave would have had The crowd of players and audience crowd as everyone else attempts to green steam rising from it as this goes wild, finally quieting 10 attract their participant’s attention). vast band gallops through the minutes later to hear an excellent And our Anne disappears behind arrangement. The next piece starts encore of a medley starting the forest of fagots (Spanish for more atonally with the cors anglais with the opening chords of the bassoons), not to be seen again but then cheers up and leads onto Fireworks music and then swelling until well after the end of the three traditional Spanish tunes into Granada. All exhausted, concert. which are suitably crowd pleasing. numb, the whole The MC has been asking The excitement is rising at this 511 double reed players begin individuals where they are from, point and the band launches to disperse. It is after one in the raising cheers of welcome from into Granada, which brings wild morning so the street bars are the crowd. He gets one Spanish adulation from the crowd; the MC closing up and we go home to the flat for a celebratory beer. Well girl up onto the podium; she is gets in on it at this point and the done all! n beaming but is actually shorter whole event feels like a Rugby 7s than her bassoon! The crowd final as the final notes flourish, Katrina Allen

Celia Craig

22 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

AN INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN DAW

What made you want to go to How did you like Granada itself? an oboe and gosh, no wonder the IDRS conference? Loved it! everybody plays so well! I was impressed with a lot of brands, Really, the fact that it was in Such a beautiful setting, a city with Rigoutat, Howarth and Loree to Granada. It has always been on a warm and generous spirit. my list of must-see places. Josie name a few. I could have easily have taken any away. Hawkes said that if I watched the Which three concerts did you promo, I would go … she was enjoy most? Did you play in the attempt for right. I did and I did. Sucked in! I loved the opening concert, the Guinness Book of Records? Of course, I am interested in oboe especially Ramón Ortega. I heard If so how was it? as well and the combination was David Walter and loved the It was great. It was a real moment more than I could cope with. There rendition of the Poulenc Oboe and of cohesion for the conference. were so many wonderful options Bassoon sonata. I was also amazed It was wonderful actually to to choose from. by a piece called Six Etudes by play with “all comers” and very Gilles Silvestrini and an astonishing What were your impressions of moving to play next to people you player, Katherine Needleman. Each have trouble speaking the same the conference venues? etude was an evocation of an language to and then finding that I thought that as a host city for impressionist painting. we all share a language, music. a conference it was wonderful. When the audience joined in with The main venue served concerts, Which player impressed you “Granada” it was very moving. masterclasses and the trade most? fair perfectly. The other concert Sebastian Giot. I wish I had heard How will you remember the venues were very atmospheric. his other recital! whole experience? I so loved coming out of the Salle I’ll never forget it. Completely Manuel De Falla to the garden Were you tempted by any of the wonderful! n reception. It was so beautiful, a instruments on sale? Jonathan Daw balmy evening in a garden setting YES, pretty much all of them. It is overlooking Granada. a long time since I have bought

23 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

“One of the joys of the conference was being privy to conversations and reminiscences shared by old friends or playing colleagues. One such occasion was a discussion between Leonard Hindell and Roger Birnstingl as they commented on the Bernstein anniversary this year (2018). This led to an in-depth conversation about their personal experiences with Lenny conducting their respective orchestras. Recollections that sounded as though the events occurred yesterday, details of the program, who was playing in the section, anecdotes about the rehearsals and performances – what a privilege to hear directly from players who worked with legendary musicians. This is the true value of gathering so many double reed players together in the same place – the collective history and knowledge of music and musicians cannot be measured and is often not notated anywhere, but needs to be passed on down through the ranks to inspire and inform younger players. We need to maintain a human archive, keep as many minds as possible as a repository for important human interactions.” Josie Hawkes

24 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

SESSION REVIEWS

Massed Double Reed Band El día que me quieras* included evocative melodies which One of the best things about Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) were well suited to the rich tone for taking part in the massed double El firulete* which she is well known. “Tiles of reed band was the sight of Mariano Mores (1918-2016) the Alhambra” for solo cor anglais by Carlos Miranda, was written seasoned professionals joining in Dos Arias* in 2006 on commission from the and having fun, even when tucked I. “Che gelida manina” away in the fourth bassoons! BBC Symphony Orchestra when II. “Nessun dorma” Celia was principal cor anglais Leah Stephenson (Adelaide Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) there. Symphony) was one of these, as Marcha fúnebre de “Sigfrido”* An apt choice for a recital in was Leonard Hindell (30 years Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Granada, it consisted of nine short in the New York Philharmonic Suspiros de España* movements, each representing in Orchestra). He can be seen in a Antonio Álvarez (1867-1903) music the symmetrical patterns of view of the fourth bassoons, and the famous tiles of the Alhambra. also in one of the final rehearsals, ¡Viva Graná!...* at which there were so many Francisco Alonso (1887-1948) players that the auditorium was *All works are arranged by Silvia reversed: the conductor and Coricelli and published by TrevCo contrabassoons sat on the stage, Music Publishing and the players (probably over 300 at that stage) stood amongst This group of four bassoons and a the seats usually occupied by the contra, led by Silvia Coricelli, who audience. Celia Craig, located has been principal bassoon in the so far towards the back of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra cors anglais that none of the since 1987, played a gorgeous photographers could catch her, selection of operatic arias Tuesday 28 August declared her delight to see so (including Nessun Dorma) and Camerata degli amici: Jan many of her fellow professional pasadoblés. Some (for example Dismas Zelenka y su época musicians having so much fun. Granados’ Sardana) provided an Jaime González and Simon Emes, Many people seeing these opportunity for some very lively oboe | Diego Chenna, bassoon | photos of the massed band contrabassoon playing, while Thomas Boysen, thiorbe | have suggested that we should others (particularly the Puccini Eriko Wakita, harpsichord | Dane photoshop red and white beanies arias) demonstrated the exquisite Roberts, double bass onto all the players. In the attached singing tone possible in the upper photos, you may be able to find register. Sonata IV in G minor ZWV 181,4 Anne Gilby, Jonathan Daw, Josie I. Andante Hawkes (easy!), Caryl Lambourn, II. Allegro Leah Stephenson, Liz Ampt, Julian III. Adagio Bush and Anne Tonkin; you may IV. Allegro (ma non troppo) see other people you recognise! Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) Tuesday 28 August Bärenreiter Fagot Club Barcelona: Tango, Quadro in G minor FaWV N:g1 Opera, Pasadobles, Etc. I. Largo II. Allegro Noé Cantú, Leonardo Castelló, III. Largo Silvia Coricelli, Laura Guasteví & IV. Allegrot Francisco Martínez, bassoonss Celia Craig: Our Home Planet Johann Friedrich Fasch Tuesday 28 August Sardana* (1688-1758) The ASO’s principal oboist, Celia Enric Granados (1867-1916) Verlag Bebr.Schöttstädt Craig, played a beautiful recital of Sevilla* 20th century music for oboe and This group, including Jaime Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) cor anglais. The Sonata for oboe Gonzalez and Simon Emes (oboes) A fuego lento* and piano by Stuart Greenbaum, Horacio Salgán (1916-2016) written for Celia Craig in 2015, continued over page …

25 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

SESSION REVIEWS CONTINUED and Diego Chenna (bassoon) in in a band that also included guitar, addition to a thiorbe, harpsichord piano, voice and a very imperious and six string baroque double bass, young flamenco dancer, who played music from the early 18th stamped her feet so vigorously that century by Zelenka and Fasch. earrings and hair combs fell off Both works featured the periodically onto the red and white double reeds as equal partners, marble floor. accompanied by the other three instruments, and the Fasch in Overall Impressions particular showcased some This was, without a doubt, the virtuosic bassoon playing. Thursday 30 August most interesting and enjoyable Niño Ruben y su elenco conference I’ve ever been to flamenco: Fagot Flamenco (having previously been mainly Niño Rubén, flamenco bassoon to conferences at which people | David de Arahal, guitar | Juan talk endlessly). The quality of the Pedro Peces Contreras, piano | offerings was so high, and the Ana Mar García de Quero, voice | variety so great, that it was like Araceli Muñoz Mata, dance being a kid in a candy shop. The major problem was deciding Homenaje a Juanito Valderrama which of the two or three (Vidalita y Milonga) concomitant recitals to attend. Wednesday 29 August arr. Rubén Jiménez If any Australian double reeders Meijering Bassoon Collective: Homenaje a Carmen Linares have not yet experienced an IDRS “The reed which blows in the (Tientos y Tangos de Granada) conference, I”d strongly recommend wind” arr. Rubén Jiménez you consider going some time – especially when the location is also Although overshadowed Al toque de Fagot Flamenco a major attraction in its own right, as numerically by the massed band (Soleá) World Premiere! later in the week, the Meijering Rubén Jiménez (b.1997) was the case in Granada. Collective was an amazing sight TrevCo Music Publishing Congratulations are due to the and sound on the concert hall Homenaje a Enrique Morente Spanish organizing group and the stage in the evening concert on (Bulerías) IDRS overall. n Wednesday, August 29th. This was arr. Rubén Jiménez Anne Tonkin a work written in 2017 by Chiel Meijering for 12 bassoons and A very Spanish twist to bassoon string chamber orchestra. playing, as the central instrument Below: Alhambra Lion Fountain

26 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

IDRS GRANADA FROM A BRITISH PERSPECTIVE

In Granada I made new Australian friends and discovered past links between the UK and Australian double reed worlds. Waiting in the long registration queue, (understandable with over 1300 attendees to the conference), I got chatting to Josie Hawkes and her husband Tom. We swapped instrument details of our bassoons and contras and how they were acquired/their history as the efficient registration team kept the line moving. Through Josie I was to meet other Stephen Fuller (pictured far right) joins in the World Record attempt. attendees from Adelaide including Caryl Lambourn the other half of Celia’s infectious enthusiasm stood in the row in front. But all the Reeding Matter editorial team was evident and reinforced in good humour particularly when and be given the latest copy. As a when I met her later in the the conductor said he felt we result we’re re-establishing links weren’t following well. to share content between the UK week. BDRS and ADRS and I hope a First thing Wednesday was the There was a final rehearsal couple of articles from that edition first rehearsal of the double and sound check on the Friday will appear in our UK magazine. reed band that was to perform evening at 21:15 on the outside stage before the performance The following morning, Tuesday on the Friday evening and proper at 23:00. There was a the conference officially opened hopefully break the Guinness large and enthusiastic audience and mid-afternoon I attended World Record for largest on the long wide steps that led Celia Craig’s recital entitled “Our such group. Here I ended up down from the second level of Home Planet”, the title of one of sharing a stand with Julian the conference centre. I never the movements of one of the two Bush, your Tasmanian ADRS did learn if the record was works she brilliantly performed. representative. We had been assigned bassoon 3A part and broken but there were hundreds Unlike some of the other recitals in the Handel Fireworks Music of double reed performers I attended Celia introduced each this was indicated as covering including a magnificent 11 work explaining for example that contra bassoons, a number, Bassoon 3 (Hr2). the Cor Anglais work “Tiles of the including Josie, on instruments Alhambra” had been written for a At the first rehearsal we were manufacturers had kindly television programme about the on the stage in the massive loaned from their stands for the fortress/palace that dominates auditorium on the lowest floor occasion. of the conference centre which the city of Granada and Celia as In the photo (over page) second held the trade stands and three a member of the BBC Symphony from the right is Stefan Pantzier of the concert/recital halls used Orchestra had made the recording holding a Wolf prototype new for the broadcast. for IDRS Granada. design contra which incorporates I feel this engagement with Later as attendees increased some of their developments the audience enhances the the second rehearsal had from the Contra Forte including performance for the audience players standing in the audience additional vents on the crook for even when as here there were seat rows working hard to get the stratospheric range! many for whom English was not line of sight with the distant their first language. conductor whilst sharing a stand continued over page …

27 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

Contrabassoon section

Somehow from starting on desk 6 During the week Josie showed of bassoon 3A by the performance me a beautiful reed case that had Julian and I were at the back on been left to her by Tom Wightman desk 12! and originally owned by bassoonist, conductor and composer Gilbert We did however have a great view Vinter. This led me to investigate a of the sea of bassoons in front little to find out about Tom’s time and the Mexican wave of raised working in England before he instruments during the adulation at emigrated to Australia post WW2. the end of the concert. Up to then it was only a name I The conference was a huge had seen in the discography of the success and a wonderful credit to Langwill Bassoon book. the Spanish organisers and the A quick Google search revealed strength and vitality of their double that Tom had played on at least reed community of all ages. one occasion with the famous Aside from the venues at the Denis Brain ensemble (probably conference centre there were four the recordings listed in Langwill); a other recital/performance locations One other recital I attended was Light Programme broadcast of the in the centre of town and the lovely Mark Gaydon’s “On the Summer London Bassoon trio in 1949 with Manuel de Falla auditorium up by Map of Stars” title of the third piece Archie Camden and Edward Wilson the Alhambra used for most of the in the programme. Like Celia’s and a chamber music broadcast main evening concerts and able to it was music composed in C21 also on the BBC in 1950. I’m certainly interested in discovering accommodate the Orquesta Ciudad including Mark’s own work “The 21 more about Tom and other players de Granada which excelled itself Thoughts of Toru in the Well” and who have moved between the accompanying many concerto and he spoke about the works. It was UK and Australia or vice versa solo performances. another masterful performance. something that I know Celia Craig’s The many simultaneous events and One abiding memory was the career exemplifies. effortless circular breathing that different locations necessitated Best wishes to the double reed some hard choices, logistical enabled the longlined music to flow. community Down Under. n challenges as well as great A very talented composer as well Stephen Fuller exercise walking between venues. as an outstanding bassoonist.

“… it was a fantastic week – great to get to know some locals from Adelaide and Australia as well as people from elsewhere. My favourite piece was the Vivaldi which Enrique Abargues played. It was the first bassoon concerto I heard when I started learning the bassoon – and I’ve only heard it twice live. Once when we got Tom [Wightman] to play it at an Organ Music Society Festival in Adelaide in the early 70s – and then at Granada.” Liz Ampt

28 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

PLAYERS & MAKERS

Josie Hawkes, Sarah Roper & Vicente Fuertes Gimeno Celia Craig & friends

Celia & Richard Craig, Howard Wiseman, Jeremy Walsworth

Arek Adamczk & Caryl Lambourn

Arek Adamczk & Roger Birnstingl

Bernd Moosmann Sophie Dartigalongue Richard & Celia Craig with Gordon Hunt

29 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

PLAYERS & MAKERS

Caryl Lambourn, Sophie Dartigalongue & Trevor Sze

Leonard Hindell & Roger Birnstingl

Josie Hawkes & Contrabassoon! Ryan Romine Tony Liu & Josie Hawkes

Celia Craig & Sarah Roper Gabriele Püchner & Magnus Nilsson Stefan Panzier, Clare Payne & Peter Wolf

30 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

PLAYERS & MAKERS

Vicentes Fuertes, Gordon Hunt, Catherine Larsden Maguire & Sarah Roper

Celia Craig, Sebastian Giot, Simon Emes & Judy Proctor Josie Hawkes, Roger Birnstingl & Caryl Lambourn

Judy Proctor, Alison Green, Joseph Sanders & Celia Craig Mike Britton, José Antonio Masmano & Celia Craig

31 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

AUSTRALIANS IN GRANADA

Julian Bush working out how to play a French bassoon

Anne Tonkin & Liz Ampt at the Double Reed Rehearsal

Bernd Moosmann, Liz Ampt, Caryl Lambourn & Josie Hawkes Alison Stewart-Klein

Clare Payne & Alison Stewart-Klein Josie Hawkes & Celia Craig

32 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

AUSTRALIANS IN GRANADA

Josie Hawkes & Caryl Lambourn Clare Payne & Liz Nurthen

Kaya Mitchell Josie Hawkes with MDF Bust

33 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

TRADE HALL

34 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

TRADE HALL

35 GRANADA SPECIAL ISSUE 2018

36