(IDRS Honorary Member Benjamin Kohon is the renowned former solo bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. With the late Simon Kovar he formed one of the great bassoon teams of this century, and he is fondly remembered for his very beautiful tone quality with Heckel bassoon and Carl Mechler reeds.)
Dear Editors,
Regarding the article in the October issue of the IDRS (The DOUBLE REED, Vol. I, No. 2, 1978), written by Mr. L. Ibisch, about Auguste Mesnard, the excellent French bassoonist and musician who died at age 99. I don't know of any other bassoonist in this country who lived to such an age--.
I agree with my friend Sol Schoenbach who was formerly 1st bassoonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and a splendid artist, that Mesnard had the finest tone of all the French bassoonists.
I heard practically all the French bassoonists here in the U.S. in my younger days, such as Monsieurs Leroux, Allard, Laus and Duhamel. Also Bucci and Sanolini who played the Italian bassoon, similar to the Buffet, all excellent artists. I also heard a recording of Bianchi of 5 Vivaldi bassoon concerti, and he has a beautiful tone.
Mesnard and I were associate 1st bassoonists with the N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra for 2 seasons under W. Mengelberg, conductor. I imagine that Mengelberg did not like the French bassoon sound and thus was picking on Mesnard. They had an argument after a rehearsal and Mesnard resigned. And I would have done the same thing if I had been treated in a similar manner.
All these bassoonists mentioned and conductors are ail gone now. "Time marches on'!
(Note: If Mr. Kohon refers to Raymond Allard, former solo bassoonist of the Boston Symphony under Serge Koussevitsky and uncle of Maurice Allard, the elder Mr. Allard is alive and still very interested in progress of the French bassoon. Editor.)