Nearly every bassoonist has either struggled, walked or romped through the celebrated Milde Studies--
Many bassoonists are familiar too with some recently published solos for bassoon and piano, also of a study nature: Three Study Pieces, Polonaise, and Tarantella (1966. Musica Rara. London. Edited by William Waterhouse).
In discussing the usefulness of Milde's bassoon exercises and etudes in developing musicality and fluency in his students of the French Bassoon, Maurice Allard once commented (en Français), "As a composer, Milde was not among the greats, but for understanding the nature of the bassoon, he was a Genius!"
There is a new edition of the three study books edited by Mr. Allard which I find superior to others I have used in the past. Allard has corrected many mistakes in accuracy of Milde's lines (left-out accidentals, etc.); he has indicated many small tempo adjustments which allow the student an appreciation of "breathing" in musical phrasing, and he has added a few helpful indications regarding the style or mood of some of the concert studies. This edition is published by Gérard Billaudot, Paris.
About Milde's actual career, bassoonists are generally completely unawares. Many assume vaguely that he was German and just a teacher. Because I have wanted for some time to print the humorous article on the "Leroy Milde Centennial" which follows, I considered it timely to ask Will Jansen of Holland for some accurate biographical information on the "real" L. Milde--a man who opened the eyes of legions of bassoonists to the potentials of both the bassoon, as a means of artistic expression, and sensitive musicianship in performance. Mr. Jansen sent the following information with a comment that it's about time bassoonists found out more information about the lives of their "mentors" from the past. He added that after years of searching for a picture of Julius Weissenborn, another great friend to all young bassoonists, he now has one to include in his forthcoming History of the Bassoon. Mr. Jansen's words on the subject, "Of Julius Weissenborn there will be a portrait in my book: the very first time his picture will be available to the thousands of bassoonists who use and used his tutors. It was a hell of a job to have someone dig up his portrait in Leipsig."
"About Ludwig Milde, the following: He was born in Prague in 1849, studied the bassoon at the Prague Music Academy with the then-celebrated teacher, Gross. He completed his bassoon studies in 1867 and then from 1868-1870 he studied composition and harmony with Prof. Skukersky.
Between 1870-1872, Milde played principal bassoon in the Linz opera house. He then served in a number of symphony and opera orchestras throughout Bohemia and Austria, after which he returned to Prague.
He became bassoon professor at the Prague Music Academy where he taught from 1886-1894. He then resigned from the Academy but remained active as a soloist and as a private teacher.
He wrote several study works, of which his "Orchesterstudien für Fagott" and "Akkordzerlegung für Fagott" became famous throughout the Continent and are still much in use. They were only fully acknowledged for their educational value after the war, in 1945. Milde died in Germany in 1913."