With this issue of the Double Reed we come to the close of eleven years of publication! I can remember the trepidation I felt when I was asked to follow in Gerald Corey's footsteps, to begin a newsletter modeled after his already successful "To The World's Bassoonists," as an official publication of the newly organized IDRS.
Many colleagues immediately offered encouragement and support -- first Edgar Kirk, the fine artist who works with me daily here at Michigan State and who was the first president of IDRS. Then so many others who, with their scholarship, artistry, inspiration, and old fashioned friendship, have made these publications flourish, and even to show the distinction we always strive for. It's hard to single out individuals, but I must surely mention John Mack, Laila Storch, Nora Post, Joe Robinson, John de Lancie, Arthur Jensen, Evelyn Barbirolli, Jiri Tancibudek, Alain de Gourdon, Robert Gilbert, Richard Killmer, Patricia Grignet, and so many others. Many of these friends have written brilliant articles; others have offered invaluable moral support, all have underlined the value of this work to the oboe playing world.
In the past two seasons alone, visitors to our campus have included Ray Still, Michael Henoch, and Grover Schiltz (all members of the Chicago Symphony); Werner Herbers and his colleagues in the Concertgebouw Orchestra; John Mack, both with the Cleveland Orchestra, and to give master classes; Thomas Stacy of the New York Philharmonic; Heinz Holliger to perform a brilliant recital with his harpist wife, Ursula, followed by master classes presented by both artists; Jiri Tancibudek and Pauline Strait, both from Australia visiting the U.S. where each has a daughter studying music. The sharing of ideas and inspiration to the young that these visits produce are in the best traditions of the Society.
Some special memories stand out: John Mack's brilliant performance of the Strauss concerto in Carnegie Hall -- the occasion for Robert de Gourdon's first visit to the U.S., followed by a reception whose guest list was a "who's who" of the oboe world; Heinz Holliger's various performances -- ranging from Mozart to his own incredible etude on multiphonics, always bringing to mind the expression "the Paganini of the oboe"; the chance to visit with Evelyn Barbirolli and Janet Craxton in Edinburgh not long before the latter's untimely and much lamented death; and the Tabuteau memorial concerts in Philadelphia. Of course the chance to play to one's colleagues is especially exciting and I found my recitals at Society conventions in Columbus, Edinburgh, and Tallahassee very much so.
If all of this has a valedictory note, let me assure you that my colleague -- Ron Klimko -- and I are eager to continue this work with your support and help. We can always use articles from the scholarly to the whimsical, as well as news of performances, reviews of records, books, and music; in other words, a full range of double reed news. We hope you approve of the subtle changes in format our new printer brings to the magazine.
Best wishes for 1984!