The following story actually happened last February in Boston, Massachusetts. According to a report describing the incident in the February 20, 1984, edition of the Boston Globe, three instruments--a flute, a violin, and a bassoon--were inadvertently left on a chartered bus when some members of the orchestra arrived at the hall on their own rather than taking the bus. The bus, however, contained all the instruments, and "... everybody thought somebody else would get their instruments. " The flute was borrowed from a Conservatory student housed in a nearby dormitory, the violin was found by searching through the Boston Symphony Orchestra trunks stored at Symphony Hall, and, of course, George Sakakeeny graciously loaned his bassoon. It's quite a story. But perhaps history repeats itself, because Sol Schoenbach recalls a similar situation "... when my trunk went to Brooklyn and the Philadelphia Orchestra went to Harrisburg. I ended up playing Tchaikovsky's 5th on Del Negro's unadjusted bassoon and he went to the movies. "
Incidentally, George Sakakeeny is no slouch as a bassoonist either. He is the former Principal Bassoon of the Singapore Symphony (1979), and the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo (1979-83), and was a semifinalist and finalist in the recent Pittsburgh Symphony and New York Philharmonic bassoon auditions respectively. Ed.
I was minding my own business that Sunday afternoon, making my usual approach to the New England Conservatory where I had an appointment at 3:30. It was 3:20 or so, and I was in a hurry. I always walk quickly in that neighborhood anyway, especially when I'm carrying my instrument. As I rounded the corner and made my way to the entrance of the Conservatory, a car pulled up and a woman dashed out and excitedly asked: "Excuse me, is that a good bassoon?" My first reaction was to exclaim "No!", and run away, but before I could, she proceeded to explain anxiously that the first bassoon player in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra had left his instrument on a bus, and they couldn't start the concert until an instrument was borrowed for him, and would I lend my instrument, etc... If I hadn't finally recognized her as Joseph Silverstein's wife, I would have hightailed it into the Conservatory, thinking the whole situation was an absolute con. I thought for a minute and agreed to lend my bassoon for the concert, which was supposed to have started at 3:00. We hurried over to Symphony Hall where Charles Ullery stood waiting and feeling glad that he kept his reeds separate from his case. He performed an all-Beethoven concert, including the second symphony and the violin concerto beautifully, as if he were playing an instrument he had known for years. After the concert the bus returned and there was Chuck's bassoon still on it enjoying the day off! I was able to make a new friend and enjoy the rare experience of hearing my own instrument performed on from the audience--overall, a good day!