IDRS Annual Meeting, this summer, 1975. Please note that the Meeting will be extended another half day, through at least lunch time of August 12th. The total Meeting period, then, will be August 10-11 and 12.
A bassoonist/engineer in Austin, Texas, has developed a very fine Strobe Tuner which uses space-age computerized circuitry, transistors and very long-lasting battery (for easy portability). Different computer punch cards may be inserted into the tuner for testing all notes by equal tempered tuning, just intonation, Pythagorean tuning, and mean tone tuning. With different cards a player may also test his instrument to all notes based upon A = 440, or A = 441, 442, 439, etc. In addition to the use of stroboscopic lights to test exact intonation visually, the instruments will also emit the precise pitch to be matched - in any octave. The machine is very easy to use, is very ruggedly built, and it is quite reasonable in price compared to other tuners on the market. I highly recommend this most useful aid to students and professionals. Write to M. Ward Widener, Widener Engineering, 203 Westbrook Drive, Austin, Texas 78746.
Need an electronic amplifier to make yourself heard (jazz or avant garde)? There is now available a transducer which attaches directly to the reed (without drilling, it is assured), and thence to amplification equipment. For detailed information and prices, write to Barcus-Berry Sales Corp., 5782 East Second Street, Long Beach, California 90803.
Bassoon in the News, Brief - From a New York Times music review by Allen Hughes, December 28, 1974: reviewing two concerts by the renowned composer and music/humorist, Peter Schickele and his "P.D.Q. Bach" group. Some of the selections were titled, "Suite from the Civilian Barber," "The Musical Sacrifice," The Canine Cantata, "Wachet Arf," "Fanfare for the Common Cold" and "Concerto for Bassoon vs. Orchestra," - "and Mr. Schickele was, of course, almost constantly front and center as monologist (pretty funny despite outrageous puns), bassoonist, houndentenor (all fluffy in a woolly dog costume) and all-purpose cut-up."