ADRS News

Reporting from Brisbane on the 2017 ADRS Masterclasses

By Miriam Butler Handsworth

Following the 2017 ADRS Oboe & Bassoon competition there was a lunch break, which was an opportunity to meander through the trade stands set up in the AMEB foyer. We thank all who participated including Richard Craig Woodwind, Bassoon Factory, Musson Bassoon Reeds, Ozwinds, Oboe Central, Yamaha and Buffet. It is always a good opportunity to play different or new models of instruments, check out new accessories or simply get some reed making tips from an expert.

The ADRS has been blessed with the generous gift of access to a repertoire of downloadable music for the rarer instruments of the double reed family by Jennifer Paull, whom you can read about here on Wikipedia.

Jennifer spent her lifetime playing, instigating, and creating a repertoire for the oboe d’amore, then publishing and recording it. This then spread to all the rare members of the oboe family, so there are many works that are for ensemble too - from simple to advanced. When Jennifer retired, she donated it all to WIMA. It is downloadable free of charge (see below). Every item has a sound illustration - either computer-generated or her own recordings where available. Realising that not everybody has a bass oboe or musette, or even oboe d’amore for that matter, there are alternative parts for oboe and bassoon where applicable. It represents a lifetime of work.

About 16 Australian Double Reed players visited Granada in August 2018 for the IDRS Conference. Photo's and videos are being gathered together for a special issue of Reeding Matter (online only). Meanwhile here is a video to wet your appetite.

The Granada Special Edition of Reeding Matter is now online and availalbe to everyone, not just ADRS Members.

This is an online version only.

Click the image to download the Granada Special Issue

The View from the First Chair - On Contract as Guest Principal

A blog by Rachel Bullen

An orchestra that finds itself without a principal oboe often chooses to give a contract for a period of time. This time, that lucky oboist is me! I am on contract as guest principal oboe with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for a few months. This blog will tell a little bit about my experiences playing with this fabulous group of musicians.