Louis Salomons at Will Jansen Home
Louis Salomons, the famous bassoonist of Mexico City, was tragically killed on December 24, 1970, in a traffic accident in Naarden, Holland, where he had been visiting with friends. On December 20th, he spent a good "bassoonists' day" at Will Jansen's home, where the above photo was taken. Four days later he was no more.
A cruel blow has deprived the world of one of its greatest solo and orchestral performers, a most able teacher, master reed-maker and a much-promising bassoon maker.
At the height of his career, with many ideas for fresh projects, he was struck by a passing car while crossing a road and killed instantly.
Salomons began studying the bassoon at age 10, with P.J. Elders, then Principal of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Four years later he auditioned for and was accepted by Arturo Toscanini to tour and play with the maestro in Israel. At the ripe age of 17 he was made Second Principal Bassoon of the Concertgebouw and later was given the Conservatory teaching post.
In 1946, he went with conductor Erich Kleiber to Havana, Cuba, where he was Solo Bassoon for three years and made many new friends (some of whom are now my colleagues in the Baltimore Symphony and who remember Salomons fondly. Ed.). Since 1949 he had been Principal Bassoon in the National Orchestra of Mexico, where he established - and with European concerts as well - a bassoonist's fame rarely matched.
You will notice in the listing of stolen instruments that five bassoons and a group of his reeds were taken from Mr. Salomons' private workshop in Mexico City. The theft occurred very soon after his death, making the crime especially invidious. The editor hopes that readers of this newsletter the world over will keep a sharp look-out for these instruments and reeds (especially the ones of Salomons' manufacture) until they are located and returned.
We join with Mr. Jansen and Salomons' legion of friends in deeply mourning the passing of "a noble man and an outstanding musician."