The publishers of this monumental book about the bassoon, Frits Knuf B.V. (Postbus 720 - 4116 ZJ Buren (Gld.) -Netherlands), have recently sent to IDRS the above parts of the work "for review." The total production, begun in installments last year and scheduled for completion by 1981, will include 2700 pages in 4 cloth-bound volumes. The cost in total including 4 binding cases for the volumes is Hfl 975, - International catalog information: ISBN 906027-271 -4.
We are not historians ourselves in IDRS. We do have a growing reference library for all double reed materials and we have many individual society members who are organological experts and/or researchers in this field. Since the book's introduction there have appeared several other reviews, one by William Waterhouse (Early Music, London. January 1980) and reviews of separate issues by Jeremy Montagu of London. I have read the material sent me thoroughly and must initially say that in my opinion the negative comments of both earlier reviewers is amply justified.
It is sad to see that a work of such depth, cost (in time of research as well as in actual money on today's market) and over-all good intention and appearance should contain so many problems and errors.
I might easily cite parts of the book where I too see absolute mistakes and also examples of unscientific explanations of complex historical and current day subjects. But I would prefer to take a broader look at the book, its problems and its potential value to those who will buy it.
First, the factual errors: it is imperative that the author now study all specific comments about mistakes in actual fact contained in the large work. When he is satisfied that an error has been made, whether through typographical or other reason, a list of ERRATA should be compiled. This errata list should be as complete as possible, even if it comprises a small chapter in itself. It should be completed in two year's time, by 1983. It should be sent free to each and every holder of the book.
Secondly the price. I can only discuss this problem. I doubt if there will be any move to lower the price. I do not know whose idea it was to make the retail cost of this book in excess of $500 U.S. But even in today's inflated marketplace with its unusual imbalance between the values of European and North American monetary systems, this book is highly over-priced. I know that publishers must make a profit to remain in business, and I know that paper and printing costs have risen dramatically over the past years. But I believe a more realistic price for this book to be somewhere between $150 and $300 U.S. Along with the price facing us now is a negative factor which I dislike intensely: that is, because of the manner of printing the book by sections over an extended time period, the purchaser is required to work at constructing the book himself/herself. The plates must be inserted exactly where they were intended. They are now jumbled together with very little text nearby to help the owner guess their eventual placement. The sections are all unbound and uncut. Each part of the large work is held in a soft cover folder. Inside are several loose sub-sections which must be cut laboriously by the owner before they maybe read in ordinary fashion. For a book costing this much, I would normally imagine a luxurious hard cover from the beginning (no printing or factual errors either), superb long-lasting binding, perhaps even gilt edge. But no, we must get out razor blades and knives and risk spoiling the pages with uneven cutting. How uncomfortable. After this do-it yourself work has been fully done and after all the photos and drawings are in the right order, we are then sold a hard binding kit for making it all permanent. This may be the standard with many other books in other fields of study. I do not know. But the library of my university which stores nine floors of books on all subjects from all parts of the world was highly surprised by the conditions relating to the printing and distribution of the book in question.
I am very well impressed by the quality of paper, the style of print and the clarity of text and illustrations. There is a very important plus aspect to this huge book and it of course is the mountain of collected information relating to the bassoon which has never been gathered together before. Mr. Jansen is to be congratulated for the wide range of his sincere dedication to our subject.
Much of the information about players, past and present is certainly new to all of us; it will make fascinating reading for any bassoon-lover. Provided that a list of errata follows soon, there will also be real value to researchers at every level of study.
For a book demanding such a high price I feel certain that most individuals will find it too expensive for their personal libraries. Music school and university libraries will probably find room for it in their budgets, but I wish it were not so costly. Were it more easy to buy, the libraries would have more funds available to order some of the fine music for bassoon cited in the text!