HUMBERT LUCARELLI: OBOE ARTIST D.M.A. Document Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Bradley Michael Walsh B.M., M.M. Graduate Program in Music The Ohio State University 2011 Document Committee: Professor Robert Sorton, Advisor Dr. Daryl Kinney Professor Karen Pierson Professor Mark Rudoff Copyright by Bradley Michael Walsh 2011 ABSTRACT Humbert Lucarelli is recognized as one of the world’s leading oboe soloists of the twentieth century. The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, lists Mr. Lucarelli as one of America’s most renowned oboists. His career has spanned six decades, and in that time, he has forged a unique career that is rare in American oboe playing. To his credit, he has recorded hundreds of works and has had commissions and premiere performances of over one hundred compositions for solo oboe by many celebrated composers. Lucarelli’s performances have been reviewed in over two hundred newspapers around the world. Since 1968, Lucarelli has also been active as a teacher at The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. He taught at other prestigious schools of music in the United States, at summer festivals, and at music schools throughout the world. An advocate of the oboe as a solo instrument, Mr. Lucarelli has also been responsible for creating competitions for young professional oboists. This document provides biographical information on Mr. Lucarelli’s career and how it evolved into something other than the orchestral career for which he trained. Bypassing offers from the Baltimore Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and the ii Houston Symphony, Mr. Lucarelli created a career as the first leading solo oboe artist in America. Documented here are insights into his pedagogical practices. This document provides historical background for the oboe concerto composed for him by John Corigliano. Further, discrepancies that exist between Mr. Lucarelli’s premiere recording of the concerto and the published edition by G. Schirmer are outlined. Additionally, a listing of Lucarelli’s recorded works is provided. The discography is arranged in chronological order and provides detailed information on each recording. Finally, the document contains a list of his published performance editions and transcripts of personal interviews between the author and Mr. Lucarelli. iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank Mr. Lucarelli for his cooperation in this project. Without his willingness to help me, this document would not have been possible. I would also like to thank him for access to programs, recordings, pictures, oboe manuscripts and generosity of his time to interview him. Lastly, I would like to thank Mr. Lucarelli for inspiring me musically from early on in my childhood. Without your recordings to listen to, I doubt that I would have ever continued playing the oboe. I am always amazed by your modesty and generosity toward others. I would like to thank my wife for giving her support throughout my degree and providing me with encouragement when things felt impossible. I would also like to give her an enormous thank you for taking care of our three young children when I needed time to work. You were always there for me and for that I love you. I would also like to thank my children for inspiring me to achieve. I would like to thank Joan Voveris (Aunt) who has had an integral role in my music endeavors. Without your financial support and your belief in me I would have never made it. I would also like to thank my mother for introducing me to the oboe and the recordings of Mr. Lucarelli at an early age. I would like to thank my father who more iv than anyone has taught me the value of hard work and determination. I would like to thank God for getting me through my entire education. I would like to thank the following teachers who along the way showed genuine interest in me and pushed me to excel: Ellen Flint, Jerome Campbell, Thomas Heinze, Mark Nelson, Richard Lundahl, Linda Willis, and Joe Kreines. Lastly, I would like to thank my committee members for their willingness to help me and participate in my education. Special thanks to Professor Sorton for helping me throughout this degree and providing me with a graduate teaching position. I am always amazed by your talents as a teacher and oboist. I would like to thank Professor Pierson for her encouragement and willingness to take me on as a bassoon student. I would like to thank Dr. Kinney and Professor Rudoff for their willingness to participate in my education. v VITA 1976………………………………………………………………………………………………...Born, Champaign, IL 1998……………………………………………………………………………………………….……Bachelor of Music Music Education Wilkes University 1997-1998………………………………………………………………….……………………………….Oboe Faculty Wilkes University Community Division 2000………………..……………………………………………………………………………………..Master of Music Hartt School of Music 1999-2000……………………………………………………………………………………….…..….....Oboe Faculty Hartt School Community Division 1998-2000…..……………………………………………………………………….……….……Graduate Assistant Hartt School of Music 2001-Present…………………………………………………….……………........Second Oboe/English Horn Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra 2001-2005……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….Extra Mansfield Symphony Orchestra 2003-2008……………………………………………………………………………………..……..…Music Educator Columbus City Schools 2005-2006……………………………………………………………………………….……………………………….Extra Columbus Bach Ensemble 2005-Present………………………………………………………….…………………………………..Second Oboe Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra vi 2006-Present……………………………………………………………….……….…….…………….Principal Oboe Southeast Ohio Symphony Orchestra 2008-2009…………………………………………………………………………..Graduate Teaching Associate School of Music The Ohio State University 2008-Present………………………………………………………………………………………….……..Utility Oboe Springfield Symphony Orchestra 2008-Present…………………………………………………………………………………….……..Music Educator Columbus City Schools 2009…………………………………………………………………………………………………........………………Extra Roanoke Symphony Orchestra FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Music Area of Emphasis: Oboe Performance vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………….iv Vita…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....vi List of Illustrations……………………………..………………………………………………………………….…...x List of Figures……………………………………..……….…………………………………………………….........xii Chapter One: Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………..1 Biographic Summary…………………………………………………………….………………1 Need for Study……………………………………………………………………………………..4 Purpose of Study………………………………………………………………………………….6 Review of Literature……………………………………………………………….……….…..6 Definition of Terms………………………………………………………………….…………..9 Limitations of the Study……..………………………………………………………………10 viii Chapter 2: Childhood and Early Career…………………………………………………………………………11 Chapter 3: Solo Career………………………………………………………………..………….…………………...23 Chapter 4: Corigliano Concerto History and Background….……………..……….………………….31 Chapter 5: Performance Discrepancies…..………………………………………..……….…………………41 Chapter 6: Recording Solo Artist…………………………………………………………….….…………………50 Chapter 7: Educator…………………………………………………………………………………….….……………55 Chapter 8: Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….………….……61 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….67 Appendix: A Humbert Lucarelli’s Solo and Chamber Music Discography…………….….…69 Appendix: B Humbert Lucarelli’s International Publishing Editions ……………….….………88 Appendix: C Personal Interview Transcripts with Humbert Lucarelli……………………..….90 Interview with Humbert Lucarelli November 13, 2010…………………………………………........90 Interview Two with Humbert Lucarelli, November 14, 2010……………………….…….…...102 Interview Three with Humbert Lucarelli, November 15, 2010………………………………….…113 ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Illustration 1: Lucarelli with the Florida Symphony……………………………………………..……….17 Illustration 2: Lucarelli’s Tully Hall Concert Advertisement………………..…………………..……26 Illustration 3: Lucarelli practicing with rock band……………………………….……………………….28 Illustration 4: Lucarelli performing with rock band……………………………….…………………….28 Illustration 5: Program of Bert Lucarelli and Musemorphoses……………….…………………...29 Illustration 6: Program of World Premiere of Oboe Concerto………………….…….…….……..37 Illustration 7: Program Notes of World Premiere of Oboe Concerto…………..…….…………38 Illustration 8: Program of Lucarelli with Martha Graham Dance Company.……..….………40 Illustration 9: Front View of the Puff…………………………………………………………….………...…..59 Illustration 10: Side View of the Puff……………………………………………………………….…….…….59 Illustration 11: Front View of Puff Early 1970’s……………………………………………….……….….60 Illustration 12: Side Angle of Puff……………………………………………………………………………….60 Illustration 13: Front of concert flyer……………………………………………..………………………….63 x Illustration 14: Back of concert flyer……………………….....................................................64 xi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Mvt. One, mm. 45 of Oboe Manuscript………………………………………………….………43 Figure 2: Mvt. One, mm. 45 of G. Schirmer Edition…….………………………………………………..43 Figure 3: Mvt. One, mm. 45 of Score…………………………………………………………………………….43 Figure 4: Mvt. One, mm. 169 of Oboe Manuscript……………………………………………………….44 Figure 5: Mvt. One, mm. 169 of G. Schirmer Edition…………………………………………………….45 Figure 6: Mvt. One, mm. 169 of Score………………………………………………………………………….45 Figure 7: Mvt. One, mm. 209 of Oboe Manuscript……………………………………………………….45 Figure 8: Mvt. One, mm. 209 of G. Schirmer Edition………………………………………………..….45 Figure 9: Mvt. Three,