I am happy to introduce this third Journal of the International Double Reed Society. I know you will find its contents informative and thought-provoking. The authors are leading performers and pedagogues. They include Christopher Weait of the Toronto Symphony; Ronald Roseman, one of New York's most prominent oboists; Richard Plaster of the Boston Symphony; John Corina and James Burton, both of the University of Georgia; and James Lakin of the University of Iowa. Our colleague from the Netherlands, Cees Verheijen, has compiled a most welcome supplement to the 1974 listing of baroque oboe music on records.
You will find two enclosures with this volume - one is a registration form for the August meeting of the IDRS; the other is a questionnaire which I hope you will take the time to complete. Our indefatigable colleague in Czechoslovakia, Miroslav Hosek has asked me to include the following message:
"Thanks to the kindness of Daniel Stolper and the generosity of the executive of the IDRS, a plan is beginning which in my opinion may be of great advantage to the idea of international cooperation among oboists. I am trying to collect material: 1) on all oboist members of the IDRS; 2) on all prominent contemporary oboists. I hope you will be understanding and cooperate with me in this plan. In the course of time I shall inform you of results achieved in TTWO. I am looking forward to receiving the form together with photos, reviews, and other publicity material. Yours sincerely, Miroslav Hosek."
Let me take this opportunity to thank the many artists who have taken the time to write articles for the IDRS publications. The many student members look with great anticipation for insights into every phase of the double reed player's career. Those of you who occupy important positions in orchestras and on music school faculties around the world have a certain responsibility as the "elite" of the double reed world to share your ideas and experiences with the younger generation. These publications provide a medium to help bring these ideas to a large and enthusiastic readership.
I look forward to seeing you in Evanston in August.
--Daniel Stolper