From JOHN MILLER comes word that he will soon have the orchestral score and parts for the Vanhal Concerto in F Major for two bassoons available for rental. For further information one can write John directly at 706 Lincoln Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55105.
I have also recently received a copy of a new excellent booklet entitled Advanced Reed Design and Testing Procedure for Bassoon written by MARK EUBANKS of Arundo Research Company (P.O. Box 4952, Portland, Oregon 97208). The work is the result of Mark's extensive research on reeds. It contains some excellent fresh ideas on both designing reeds and testing and refining the finished product. Copies of the booklet are available for $5.00. Mark writes that he hopes to give a presentation on this work at the Las Vegas Conference. We can look forward to that with great anticipation.
THE MUSICIANS CLUB OF NEW YORK has announced the sponsorship of the 1987 Olga Koussevitzky Competition for Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon) to be held on April 7, 8 and 9, 1987, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 111 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10023. The competition is open to musicians over 16 and under 26 by March 1, 1987, which is also the deadline date for applications. To enter one must submit a written program suitable or a full length recital (45-60 minutes) and a completed application blank with an entry fee of $25.00 to: Mrs. Constance Mensch, 165 West 66th St., New York, NY 10023, (tel. 212-877-2127). The length of the audition will be 15 minutes. Application blanks may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address. The Awards are for $2,000, $1,000, and $500. This will be the 32nd year of the Awards, which rotate every four years between piano, voice, strings, and woodwinds.
From CARL RATH, bassoonist at the University of Oklahoma, comes word that bassoonist MILAN TURKOVIC will be in residence, performing and teaching at the U of 0 on Feb. 13, 1987 as part of a Bassoon Fest. Bassoonists interested in attending and/or participating can obtain more information by writing to Carl at the School of Music, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, or calling (405) 325-4181.
As mentioned in the last issue of The Double Reed, the 4th annual Miller/Skinner Bassoon Symposium will be held at Towson State University, Towson, MD 21204, from June 21-27, 1987. (Further information can be obtained by writing to Gene Griswold at TSU at the above address.) This year's Symposium will feature the guest appearance of Scandanavian bassoonist, KNUT SONSTEVOLD. The following is a short biography of Knut, to better acquaint the bassoon world with this new star on the horizon:
Knut Sonstevold is a musician of many parts. In addition to his regular job as principal solo bassoonist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, he teaches, composes and performs electro-acoustic and contemporary music. As a member of the Stockholm Wind Quintet and the Swedish/German Merlin Ensemble he plays chamber music and music of the Baroque.
He was born in Oslo in 1945 of a family of musicians. First he began playing the clarinet, but he soon changed to the bassoon. Between 1960 and 1968 he studied the bassoon and composition at Akademie fur Musik und darstellende Kunst with Professor Karl Ohlberger in Vienna. He concluded his studies by gaining a diploma with distinction.
Between 1969 and 1971 Knut Sonstevold was alternating solo bassoonist with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. At this time he became interested in electronic music as a form of expression in contemporary music. He spent one year studying contemporary music and electronic music at Instituut voor Sonologie in Utrecht with Dr. Werner Kaegi.
Knut Sonstevold then moved to Sweden, where between 1972 and 1980 he was alternating solo bassoonist with the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He also joined the Philharmonic Wind Quintet, since renamed the Stockholm Wind Quintet. In 1974 he was awarded a debut scholarship by Rikskonserter.
For some years he worked very actively with electronic music as a member of Fylkingen. Sonstevold's own compositions include both traditional instruments and electronics. At Flykingen his associates have included the Swedish composers Miklos Maros, Lars-Gunnar Bodin, Sten Hanson, Arne Mellnas, Sven-Erik Back, Per-Gunnar Alldahl, Jan W. Morthenson and Sven-David Sandstrom. This collaboration has resulted in several works being specially written for Knut Sonstevold.
In 1980 he became principal solo bassoonist with the Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has taught bassoon playing at the State Academy of Music in Stockholm since 1981 and he has served as a chamber music instructor on the summer music course in Sveg.
As a member of the Stockholm Wind Quintet he has toured Sweden, West Germany, Switzerland, France, the UK and the USA.
Together with the Merlin Ensemble, which apart from himself includes the German oboists Ingo Goritzky and Burkhard Glaetzner among others, he has toured West Germany, Switzerland and East Germany. The Merlin Ensemble combines modern wind instruments with Baroque instruments such as the gamba and the double bass viol. Its repertoire includes both Baroque and contemporary music.
Knut Sonstevold is a frequent visiting soloist with several of the largest orchestras in the Nordic countries and he has made many radio and television recordings. His solo recordings include the following:
BIS LP 122
Works by Alexandre Tansman, Roger Boutry, Malcolm Arnold, Paul Hindemith, Karl-Birger Blomdahl and Erland von Koch. Knut Sonstevold together with Eva Knardahl, piano.
Flykingen FYLP 1011
Knut Sonstevold, bassoon and electronics: Works by Maros, Brons, Mellnas, Bodin, Stockhausen and Hanson.
"Bassoon and Electronics is the title of Fylkingen's record. It is extraordinarily successful. One senses that the expressive range of instrumental music has been further expanded. Sonstevold on the bassoon is like Holliger and Sparnaay on the oboe and bass clarinet. "
Musikrevy, Stockholm 1978
TIMOTHY
S. McGOVERN was recently named associate principal bassoon of
the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and will begin during the 1987
season. Mr. McGovern is currently instructor of bassoon, director
of the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band, and a member of the
Del'Arte Woodwind Quintet at the University of Delaware. He is
also the recent co-winner of the East and West Artist Prize for
a New York City concert debut and will give a Carnegie Hall recital
on February 1, 1987 at 2:15 p.m. The program will 'include works
by Corelli, Steinmetz, Saint-Saens, Miroshnikov, and Weber.