Rodney Ackmann: Principal Bassoon of the Tulsa Philharmonic, 11-15-82. Performed a program of bassoon music assisted by Ann Dougherty, piano and Heather Graham and Susan Brown, bassoons, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Program included: the Introduction and Allegro Spirituoso by Senaille/Pezzi; the Sonata by Romeo Cascarino; Two Pieces for Bassoon and Piano by Bernard Garfield; Trio Sonata Op. 3, No. 2 by Correlli/Myers; the Purcell Chaccone arranged by John Miller, and Take Five arranged by David Carroll.
Mitchell Byler: 10-24-82. Performed a program of chamber music at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, assisted by Leslie Shiells, flute, the Jurgen Schwietering String Quintet, and bassoonists Christopher Robson, Paul Rodgers, and Werner Eichler. Works included the Concerto "La Notte, " by Vivaldi; the Divertissement for bassoon and strings by Francaix, the Bachianas Brasilieras #6 for flute and bassoon by Villa-Lobos, and the Phoenix for four bassoons and harpsichord by Corrette. Michael Traub in reviewing the concert praised Byle. for his "... many technical attributes such as tonguing and an exquisite Iyrical line." Mr. Byler is currently principal bassoon of the South African National Orchestra.
Ardith Freeman: 9-24-82. Performed a program of bassoon music as a member of the faculty of the University of Southern Maine at Corthell Hall, Gorham Campus, assisted by Robert Glover, piano, Rhonda Martin, flute, and George Sapkin, cello. Works included. Diaphonic Suite No. 1 for bassoon and cello by Ruth Crawford Seeger (World Premiere), Bachianas Brasilieras #6 for flute and bassoon by Villa Lobos, Sonata by Eccles, and Nocturne and Dance by Bozza.
Bernard Garfield: with Murray Panitz, flute, performed the world premiere of the Concerto for Flute and Bassoon by Ezra Lederman with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti, conductor, on January 26, 27 and 28 and Feb. 28 in Philadelphia and on Jan. 31 in Washington, D.C. (The work is dedicated to the conductor and soloists--Panitz, Garfield and Lederman were students together at the High School of Music and Art in New York in the late '30's!). In describing the work, soloist Garfield wrote: "It runs about 35 minutes and has received favorable comment from the audience, critic, and orchestra players. It's a work that incorporates lyricism, lots of technique (double tonguing, flutter, finger-breaking patterns) but always attractive melodies for both instruments. Lederman truly understands the bassoon. Perhaps his experience with me thirty years ago, when he wrote a bassoon concerto, paid dividends in this new double solo work."
James Jeter: 11-18-82. Performed a program of solo bassoon and chamber music at Christ and St. Stephen's Church, New York. Program included: the Concerto by Jean Francaix (New York premiere), the Divertissement for oboe, clarinet and bassoon by Francaix, the Sonate by Hindemith, Three Russian Songs transcribed for alto, bassoon and piano by Keith Romano from works by Glinka and Tchaikovsky. (Mr. Jeter published an article on his work with Jean Francaix and this Divertissement for bassoon and strings in the 1981 Journal of the IDRS, Ed.)
William Ludwig: Faculty member at the University of South Florida, is performing all six of the Bach cello Suites in a series of three recitals at USF, Tampa on 10-3-82, 12-7-82, and 2-12-83. Other works on these recitals will include the Sonatine by Tansman, the Rondo by Hummel, the Hindemith Sonate, the Mozart bassoon and cello Sonata, the Ozi Sonata and the Cascarino Sonata. He will be assisted by Robert Helps, piano. (In reviewing the first concert, Mary Shenk of the St. Petersburg Times, praised Ludwig for ". . . the richness of his tone, his impeccable intonation, amazing breath control, technical fluency and rhythmic sense.")
Sol Schoenbach: 1-10-83. With John de Lancie, oboe and the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Mark Mostovoy, conductor, performed two concerti by Antonio Vivaldi (in G), and Guiseppi Cambini at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. In reviewing their performance, critic Daniel Webster of the Inquirer wrote that neither of the ". . . players who had sat together in the Philadelphia Orchestra more than 25 years ago . . . has forgotten the kind of ensemble that had been second nature to them . . . with a . . . keen sensitivity to each other's sound"
Daniel Smith: 10-23-82. Performed the West Coast Premiere of the Concerto for contrabassoon and orchestra with the Santa Cruz, California Symphony. The critics were high in their praise of Mr. Smith's efforts. He also performed a solo bassoon recital on 10-27- 82 at the Chapel of the Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz. Works included the Concerto in C by Fasch, the Romance by Elgar, the Variations by Reicha, the Introduction and Polonaise by Demersseman, the Duetto for bassoon and piano by Schaffrath, one of the Vivaldi Concerti. Mr. Smith also performed three solo recitals in Europe in March, 1982, at Wigmore Hall, London (March 6), the Atalier, Brussels (March 8) and Diligentia Hall, The Hague (March 9). Besides works previously listed, the program included the first European performance of the Sonata Robusta by American composer, James Cohn.