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Double Reed News 125 L Spring 2020 1 DRN 125 Spring 2020 Text Double Reed 75.Qxd 30/01/2020 09:13 Page 2 DRN 125 Spring 2020 Cover_Double Reed 75.qxd 29/01/2020 16:22 Page 1 DoubleThe magazine of theReed British Double News Reed Society No.125 www.bdrs.org.uk I SPRING 2020 SoloSolo ConcertosConcertos inin thethe SpotlightSpotlight BBCYMBBCYM 20202020 FinalsFinals inin MayMay DRN 125 Spring 2020 Cover_Double Reed 75.qxd 29/01/2020 16:22 Page 2 DRN 125 Spring 2020 Text_Double Reed 75.qxd 02/03/2020 12:55 Page 1 Notes from In this Issue... 1 Chairman’s Comments “ the Chair Geoffrey Bridge 2 Editorial ” Clive Fairbairn Geoffrey Bridge 4 New Committee Members for 2020 Louisa Denby, Donal Flynn, Stephen Fuller As I write these notes Christmas is approaching, the year is rapidly moving to Paul Hubbard, Alison Wathey a close, and I am beginning my annual retrospective for 2019. The BDRS has had a very successful event-filled year thanks to the foresight 5 BDRS ‘New Year Honours’ List! and energy of Laurence Perkins and Miles Nipper. These two, almost unaided, Geoffrey Bridge implemented an intensive Spring-tide schedule: Laurence in devising the programme, arranging and publishing music, chasing artists, (persistently 6 ENO Orchestra’s Quadruple badgering the Chairman – in a good way!) and Miles for organising Double Reeds everything else. Simon Couzens It is therefore with huge sadness that I have to announce that Miles will shortly be leaving the many posts he has held for seven years. We express our 8 Reeds That Don’t Leak enormous gratitude to Miles for all he has undertaken on our behalf during that time as Treasurer, Advertising Manager, Membership Secretary and much Julian Roberts more. Our thanks are also due to Katy, Miles’ wife, who has undert aken the secretarial/website/social media roles for the past year with skill, patience 10 Benjamin Britten's Temporal and professionalism. Variations: An Enigma Explored, Part II These two members are absolute gems and have given their services with real George Caird dedication and enthusiasm often beyond, way beyond, the call of duty. 16 A new decade and a new era for BDRS However, looking ahead we are indeed extremely fortunate that several The Society’s diary for 2020 members have answered the call to fill these important administrative roles which are so necessary for the Society to function. I must express on your behalf our gratitude to the following for taking on these tasks. Hopefully they 19 Course Assistants for 2020 will soon become familiar with the systems in place and I look forward to Alec Harmon, Amy Thompson meeting them all at the next committee meeting on March 11th 2020 at Canada Water Library in South London. 20 Philharmonia Orchestra Celebrates Paul Hubbard – Secretary 75th Anniversary Stephen Fuller – Treasurer Katie Vickers Donal Flynn – Membership Secretary Alison Wathey – Advertising M anager 21 Obituary Tribute: John Whitfield Louisa Denby – Website and Social Media M anager Quentin Poole I have also to announce that Sir Karl Jenkins stood down as Oboe President after many years but is to be given the new title of President Emeritus. 22 Oboist Ewan Millar Aiming High This way he will keep in touch with the work of the Society. Look out for an interview with Sir Karl in the next issue of DRN. Nicky Fairbairn, Ewan Millar You will not be surprised to read that the Society has increased its 25 Reports & News subscription charges for all – both new members and membership renewals – Geoffrey Bridge, Stella Dickinson from 1st January 2020. Many of you will already have received an email Zen Grisdale, Elisabeth Waterhouse` from me in early December about this. I now use MailChimp to distribute bulk messages to BDRS members so I would appreciate it if you would be good enough to ensure that you can receive MailChimp emails 27 Reviews (‘ unblock ’ if you have it blocked please). If you object to this method of Fiona Gordon, Ewan Millar communication please do send me an email address that I can privately Jessica Mogridge, Antony Elliott, use to communicate with you. We are in the process of launching a regular series of Newsletters containing all manner of information about courses, Rick Yoder private sales, concerts, brief articles, pictures and so it is important that we can communicate by email. More about this very soon, sent most probably 30 Noticeboard by – you’ve guessed it – email! 31 Classified 32 Advertising, Membership, etc Double Reed News 125 l Spring 2020 1 DRN 125 Spring 2020 Text_Double Reed 75.qxd 30/01/2020 09:13 Page 2 The Editor’s Comment Clive Fairbairn British Double Reed Society Celebrating Young Talent www.bdrs.org.uk [email protected] It remains true that there is justifiable concern about the low numbers of young people taking up oboe and bassoon compared to most other instruments. It is, however, equally important to celebrate those who President Emeritus Sir Karl Jenkins are achieving their dreams in one way or another, and perhaps already becoming role models for those following on. In this issue you can read Bassoon President Roger Birnstingl about several players who deserve ample recognition. We introduce you to Ewan Millar (cover photograph) who, having performed no fewer than three major oboe concertos during his last year at school Oboe President vacant and participated in the opening rounds of BBC Young Musician 2020, is now in his first year reading music at Oxford and aspires towards a Chairman Geoffrey Bridge professional oboe career. [email protected] Moving up only a few years there is the outstanding Tom Blomfield; at the age of just 22 he is already Principal Oboe of the Philharmonia Secretary Paul Hubbard Orchestra and in January played the Strauss Oboe Concerto at the [email protected] Royal Festival Hall as part of the Philharmonia’s 75th Anniversary festivities. Read Ewan’s review of Tom’s performance in the Reviews Treasurer Stephen Fuller section! [email protected] BDRS itself has been pleased to encourage two other young players in their budding careers – Amy Thompson (bassoon) and Alec Harmon Webmaster/Social Media Manager Louisa Denby (oboe) – involving them as assistants on the Park Place courses; this [email protected] year they will become assistant leaders in their own right. Find details about them and about the diary of BDRS 2020 activities in the usual middle pages. Membership Secretary Donal Flynn [email protected]* Although not necessarily so young, the considerable injection of new blood into the arteries of the BDRS committee is another upward trend Events Co-ordinator Laurence Perkins which we should certainly be celebrating. I have asked all five new committee members to provide a little background and a suitable [email protected] photograph to introduce themselves to you. And there are important features in this issue from many familiar names including Quentin Advertising Manager Alison Wathey Poole, Julian Roberts, and the second part of George Caird’s latest [email protected]* magnum opus on Britten’s Temporal Variations. Committee (includes the above) Robert Codd, Ian Crowther Ian Finn, Sarah Francis Philip Haworth, Anthea Wood Stop Press Double Reed News Clive Fairbairn, Editor MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN [email protected] To all BDRS Members! We have sent you an extra magazine. Education Please help spearhead this campaign by giving it away! [email protected] Hand it over to any oboist or bassoonist, with the accompanying letter of INVITATION. Legal Services Co-ordinator BDRS aims to become even more effective, both for its Nigel Salmon members and the double-reed community nationally, from 4 Portelet Place, Hedge End 2020. Please seek out players through local orchestras/chamber groups, teaching services, students, professionals and amateurs. Southampton, Hants SO30 0LZ With your help we can — literally — double the BDRS * Advertising, Membership and other membership! BDRS/DRN details – see back page ISSN 1460-5686 2 Double Reed News 125 l Spring 2020 DRN 125 Spring 2020 Text_Double Reed 75.qxd 30/01/2020 09:14 Page 3 assoons to ream bout Try beffoore yoou buyy,, 12-month warrranties on our bassoonss e bassosoon specialists All the accessosories and reeds requirq red Get ahead wiith our mini-bassoons,, ffrrom age 7 PLUS In-house bassoon repair service Visit our webssite ffoor our ffuull rangee oof instruments,, eexpert addvvice and muuch more. www.doublereed.co.ukwww.douublereed.co.uuk 01633 677729 [email protected] e o.uk DRN 125 Spring 2020 Text_Double Reed 75.qxd 30/01/2020 09:14 Page 4 New Committee Members for 2020 As custom dictates we are celebrating here the appointment of a bumper crop of new committee members, installed and welcomed at the Annual General Meeting in December. Each has been asked to provide a short introduction in their own words. Louisa Denby, Website and Social Media orchestra: he always wore a suit, which I enrolled with BDRS at its inception and Manager struck me as odd even then! when I stopped working I joined the committee. As the newly elected I’m Louisa and I have now been playing the oboe for Treasurer I aim to help the society I’ve been a about 30 years and imagine that develop and thrive so that it can continue member of the I am always trying to improve in one to encourage, link and celebrate oboists BDRS for way or another. I took the ATCL Trinity and bassoonists both in the UK and with around fifteen diploma a few years ago. I play in a the wider double reed community. years. I read local North London orchestra, as well Music at Selwyn as chamber groups with friends and College, I am a member of the Oxford and Paul Hubbard, Secretary Cambridge, and Cambridge Music Club.
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