Recently Sol Schoenbach suggested that the IDRS might better serve the double reed community by keeping and updating a list of stolen double reed instruments because, in his own words: "I get a call about a stolen bassoon almost once a week."
Further initiative for such a listing was precipitated by a letter from Chris Bestley, principal bassoonist of the Radio Chamber Orchestra of Hilversum, Holland, relating how both his Heckel bassoon and that of Kees Olthvis, second bassoonist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, were both stolen in Holland within a week of one another. And finally, William Waterhouse recently told how a Heckel bassoon, stolen from his car in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1957 has never resurfaced.
It is hoped that the listing of these instruments, along with particulars leading to their disappearance, might be of assistance in their eventual recovery and return to their original owners, as well as serving as a source for identifying suspected contraband instruments. If there is some way the Society can further discourage the theft of so vital a too] to the performing artist, further suggestions are encouraged from the readers.
Please add to (and, hopefully, delete from) the list by writing to the oboe and bassoon editors. The list will be printed in all future issues of the publications. Please include as much infor
mation as you can pertinent to the instrument (distinguishing characteristics, special keywork, etc.) and to its theft (where, when, etc.).
I . Heckel bassoon, serial number 7466, stolen in Wiesbaden, Germany, 1957, from William Waterhouse, 86 Cromwell Ave., London, N6 5HQ, England. Telephone 340-8362.
2. Heckel bassoon, serial number 10848, stolen January 1984, from Chris Bestley, FOK 54, 1276Hx, Huizen, Holland. Telephone 02152-60767.
3. Heckel bassoon, serial number 11333, stolen from Kees Olthios. (Contact Chris Bestley at the above address.)
4. Puchner bassoon, serial number 8501 (1976), stolen from Albrecht Holder, Lindpaintnerstrasse 81, 7000 Stuttgart, Germany, in Copenhagen, Denmark, when the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra was on tour.
5. Bettez Michel 8555 Place du Fondeur Trois
Rivieres. Quebec G8Y 5AI, Canada.
6. Gratz Birgit Ruschhausweg 248, 44
Munster, D4400 F.R. of Germany.