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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 2007/06
From: "HAROLD" <harold@-----.br>
Subj: [DR-L] Fr.bassoonist Noel Devos:50 years in Brazil
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:54:22 -0400
Dear List:
Distinguished French bassoonist Noel Devos, for whom Francisco Mignone
composed his "Valsas" and other works, celebrated his 50 years in Brazil
yesterday(Tuesday) with a lecture about his activities as a performer and
teacher.
I attended the lecture at the Brazilian Academy of Music and hope to
have a transcript of his speech ASAP.
The commemoration was attended by his students--who are included among
the best bassoonists in Brazil--distinguished local
composers,performers,teachers and musicologists.Among the queries was :
(1) If you were beginning the bassoon today would you perform on a French or
German bassoon? asked a bass player(who noted that fiddle players have the
same problem today choosing between a French and German bow)
Devoses answer was diplomatic .He responded that the halls and instruments
have radically changed since he first began in his native Callais and
studied at the Paris Conservatory.
He then told the story of French bassoonist in France preparing three
months to play Mahler with Van Karajan.
"He prepared himself at home with mutes for the bassoon and even used
one of the antique bassoons he had in his collection.When the first day of
the rehearsal came,the bassoonist managed to perform a lovely ppp well
prepared on a classic instrument."
Karajan's response was ""play it louder....it's a big hall."
This Lister's query concerned the growing number of "experts"
recording,publishing and even writing books on the Mignone Valsas around
the world .Meanwhile due to lack of organization and funding in
Brazil,Devoses orginal recordings of Mignone (he recorded ALL the Valsas in
oNE session!) are getting lost and many errors of interpretation are
resulting. (He has NO site and there is no Brazil entity selling online with
creditcards or paypall systems the recordings Mignone by Devos)Ditto his
intimate acquaintance with Villa Lobos,who was alive when Devos performed
his opuses in Rio de Janeiro.
Devoses response::"I once had a Brazilian student who went to study in
Germany and played the Valsas for a local professor who told him:''But you
are playing many indications which not written in the score."
Oh well...as a last note, I should add that some of biggest and so-call
"ëxperts" on Brazilian history--the Brazilianists-- are teaching at US
universities.They are well known in their field but whether they are the
best -informed is another story.
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