Seven American Hautboïstes
and a Photographer
Explore France
In search of Arundo & Tabuteau
By Bob Brulliard
In
May and June of 1992, Wayne Rapier (Boston Symphony) and Guy Hardy
(The Proboe Shop) led a group of American oboists through Paris
and, later, the renowned reed cane country in the Var region of
southern France. They visited the oboe makers Loree and Fossati
in Paris, then traveled south. They called upon several cane growers,
who enthusiastically explained the harvesting and curing processes.
After answering a million questions, these wonderfully warm artisans
had dissipated some of the mystical cloud which surrounds this
arundo donax upon which all of us so fundamentally depend.
But the American oboists came home with much more than just a
glimpse at our double-reeded roots. Through the music, an
incredible bond united the participants with the people of France,
especially in the Var. The hospitality (and the food) at the
auberge was overwhelming. And the impromptu concert was the event
of the summer for the quaint country town of Sollies-Pont.
Aside from Wayne Rapier and Guy Hardy, the participants were:
Richard Blair (Austin, TX), Bob Bruillard (Plymouth, MA), Merilee
Klemp (Minneapolis, MN), Evelyn McCarty (Corpus Christi, TX),
Aryn J. Reader (Waco, TX) and Sandy Sakofsky (Niagara Falls, Ontario,
Canada). This eclectic group of oboists grew quite close on the
three week trip. Bob, the only nonoboist on the tour, took the
pictures you see here and a thousand others. He also succeeded
in capturing the essence of the trip and the group in the following
poem:
A
funny thing happened on our journey through France - We met some
wonderful people, I think not by chance.
It started with the idea do they really raise cane? and along
comes Guy: C'est moi! I must be insane
To invite this whole group: Sandy, Richard, Merilee and Aryn too,
they're all hautboïstes, you see.
We shan't forget Evelyn, with her diphthong Texas drawl: ouw-reevoo-wahr
... mayor-seeee boaugh-kooooohw ... (what I mean is, really, Hi
y'all!)
Allons-y to Paris was Guy's commanding shout. He's in control:
un homme with clout!
Alors we land in Paris and begin our adventurous stay ...
a mad dash here, a quick turn there,
et voila: ici chez Loree!
I'm tired, I'm thirsty. It must be time to eat. How about this,
Greek restaurant? Fine with me - I'm beat.
Le METRO to Montparnasse for Paris with view, up fifty-nine
floors especially pour vous.
L'Arc de Triomphe, the River Seine, the Tour Eiffel with lights:
Quelle grande plaisir to live Paris by night.
We're off to the countryside on the Autoroute du Soleil
... let's stop to buy lunch au marché Courtenay ...
For a pique- nique, bien sûr: 'tis truly very French.
This spot is just perfect. Can we all fit on that bench?
Du pain, du beurre and beaucoup de fromage! Eleven more
days of this? My God, we'll be large!
Conversational
French 101 dans la voiture. But check the map to be sure.
Attention, class. You must speak from the lips
not that guttural sound that comes from your hips!
When do we say de rien or comment dit-on ... encore
une fois ... s'il vous plait, lentement or NON!
If you please: Ayrn we promise not to tease
of those M&Ms dancing in your head. M&mmmmm & oui
... oui was all that she said.
We're off again as I punch into 4th and 5th gear. Bon Dieu!
I think we've lost Wayne! was all I could hear.
Bien venue to the ancient town appelle Cluny, Madame Rousseau
at the helm: Désirez-vous coffee or tea?
A delightful little village where everyone is your concièrge,
cobblestone streets, pigeons at your feet; zee best pizza
at la Petite Auberge.
Is today Thursday or Friday? ... I really don't know. Yo, Sandy.
Haveya finished Iron John?
Can we all say Ho?
Time for lunch anyway ... let's stop at this place just off the
way for an eight-course meal to make your day ... veal, fish,
grated
celery root and crudités baked tomatoes with apple
sauce, boudin (!) and chicken liver paté.
We're all quite content here, this displaced oboe group, all except
for poor Richard who just wanted un peu de la soupe.
All this bread and cheese: Vite! A pill for my heart. But
wait. There's more: could it be? Yes: dessert à la carte:
With chocolate mousse, fresh strawberries, rum bake with crème
anglaise with all this food we'll be here five more days.
Nous arrivons at last: the seaside town of Hyères
to find out very early our hosts really do care.
The meals are superb. The service complete. Oh no! Oh yes! There's
more food to eat! Ah, dessert has arrived we all squealed in
tune. Oooo la la! pronounced Wayne Eclair de la tune!
It's fun! It's exciting. Let's walk the Mediterranean Je suis
ici! par ici!, exclaims Aryn
So where are all those French men?
On our way once again to the company Euro, Double Reed to see
and hear, and to buy all we need. Let's not forget our good friends
Philippe and Maryse. And for sure Aryn will remember their precious
little son Maximillian.
We talked and we learned and bought at good cost, by far the most
perfect day we had fun getting lost.
Now on a trip to le Lavandou and the boardwalk by the sea
intercepted by an Englishman: "Good God, intellectual Texans!"
Everything is so beautiful! Pinch me. Am I still here? Well, Hi
mom! Hi dad! I think I'll stay another year.
Guess what. It's time to eat! please say it isn't so. Yes. But
just listen well to Wayne's stories of Tabuteau.
And
what of this stranger. Now just who could he be? The man behind
the camera? Why that's Bob. He's into pun-ography.
Tonight we're off to Sollies-Pont in the region of the Var
The townsfolk had announced our arrival
and our music with megaphone and car.
For an evening concert that's sure to be a delight, just what
the French need, another reason to drink tonight.
Come hear the velvet music of l'Orchestre de Boston and
so they came each and every one the young, the old, their loved
ones
dear to listen to this music they would never again ever hear.
We were so touched by their kindness and as ours touched theirs
autographs, champagne, a party! They, too, really care.
A side-trip to Fossati. I think that's what we'll do see how
to make the oboes some corks, some thread, some screws or do you
need a little glue?
Now en route back to Paris and our last four days
to the city of light and l'amour
how we'd all like to stay but first another trip, must we walk?
take the train to Versailles
to pompous Louis' place, a tour.
He had more than money could buy.
Back to Paris by METRO then off to Notre Dame
Printemps, the Opera House, and sheet music at Flûte
de Pan.
We've walked, shopped and eaten so much
we're quite a little band,
do we realize what we've just done?
Mais oui! we've experienced France first hand!
So how can we thank you, Guy and Wayne
for this exceptional grand tour?
I know, I know, says Aryn, just say
Merci beaucoup for a très séjour.
A bientôt, mes amis!
This year's trip is set for the month of June. Al Genovese
and Richard Killmer are joining the group in France. For
more information please contact Wayne Rapier at (617) 934-6480.