The I.D.R.S., a History, the Historian Ronald N. Bukoff
Double dealing is a column devoted to historical topics concerning double reed instruments. The following essay is a summary of the author's presentation at the opening General Meeting, 12 August, of the 1985 Conference of the Double Reed Society in Boulder, Colorado.
The first question that needs to be asked
when confronted with the position of Historian of the International
Double Reed Society is: Why does a performance-oriented society
need a historian/musicologist? The first, and simplest, answer
is to prepare a history of the society. However, a Historian can
do much more than create a record of this organization. The Historian
can encourage the publication, in The Double Reed and the
Journal of the I. D. R. S. , of more articles on organology,
past performers and performances, composers, literature for double
reeds, etc. The Historian can be consulted both for the instigation,
and the preparation of topics, ranging from undergraduate papers
to doctoral dissertations; and for research created by those members
not working in an academic environment. Finally, through the institution
of a column, such as Double deal- ing, the Historian can
bring up questions asked by members, and allow the readers to
supply information. The Historian should be regarded as a resource,
and should be consulted, if so desired.
In preparing a history of the I.D.R.S., I welcome any, and all, information anyone feels is relevant to this project. The history is projected to run about 100 pages, with photographs, and shall cover the formation, development, publications, and personalities of the I.D.R.S.
The Historian can be of great service to students, for example: a D.M.A. candidate who's written a dissertation, "Romantic Oboe Concertos, " and is trying to figure out how to get an article published out of this material, could consult the Historian for advice on how to condense this volume into a workable format for presentation to the society. Many dissertations/ theses/papers have been written over the years by members of the society, and it would be good to see this research made easily available to the I.D.R.S. (besides sending a copy of your work to the I.D.R.S. Library).
Out of several major wind societies contacted, the National Flute Association, the International Clarinet Society, the Trumpet Society, and T.U.B.A., only the National Flute Association has a Historian. There is a gold mine of untapped riches in double reed topics out there. Let's begin to unearth them.
Questions (and answers) should be directed to: Ron Bukoff, Music Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
About the writer...
Ron Bukoff is the newly-appointed Historian of the I.D.R.S.
He is a musicologist at Cornell University, and a professional
bassoonist in the Finger Lakes District of upstate New York.