Product Description

Laila Storch is a world-renowned oboist in her own right, but her new book honors Marcel Tabuteau, one of the greatest figures in 20th-century music. Tabuteau studied the oboe from an early age at the Paris Conservatoire and was brought to the United States in 1905, by Walter Damrosch, to play with the New York Symphony Orchestra. Although this posed a problem for the national musicians' union, he was ultimately allowed to stay, and the rest, as they say, is history. Eventually moving to Philadelphia, Tabuteau played in the Philadelphia Orchestra and taught at the Curtis Institute of Music, ultimately revamping the oboe world with his performance, pedagogical, and reed-making techniques.

In 1941, Storch auditioned for Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute, but was rejected because of her gender. After much persistence and several cross-country bus trips, she was eventually accepted and began a life of study with Tabuteau. Blending archival research with personal anecdotes, Storch tells a remarkable story in an engaging style.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63614 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 624 pages

Review
"Storch's intriguing book will appeal to a broad audience, not just oboists." --Choice, January 2009

A former student of the Tabuteau, Storch (emer., Univ. of Washington School of Music) combines Tabuteau's biography and philosophies with institutional and cultural history and douses the whole with anecdotal humor. She begins with her own experiences of her teacher but reaches far beyond her personal knowledge. A world-renowned oboist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and professor at The Curtis Institute, Tabuteau (1887-1966) not only revolutionized oboe playing but also had a significant influence on orchestral teaching in the US. On the included CD, Tabuteau himself demonstrates his musical philosophy and his unique character. The cornucopia of stories and pictures volunteered by friends, family, students, and colleagues covers everything from his fumbles as a young oboist in New York, to his trouble during the gold embargo of 1933, to his retirement years in Nice. Combining a rich portrait of Tabuteau with discussion of the music and culture of period, Storch's intriguing book will appeal to a broad audience, not just oboists. Anyone interested in music will find Tabuteau's philosophies and Storch's research beneficial and applicable. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/professionals; general readers. --ChoiceE. E. Frisbie, Lawrence University, January 2008

Review

"[Storch's] personal descriptions of what it was like to study with this mercurial genius are absolutely fascinating; they provide indispensable glimpses for this generation of oboe students, not to mention future ones." -- Dan Stolper, Interlochen Centre for the Arts

"In this volume, Ms. Storch cleverly captures the essence of Marcel Tabuteau, one of the finest musicians and greatest teachers of his era and whose unique perspective profoundly influenced classical music for generations to follow. The stories she tells about this remarkable man are, at once, poignant, witty and right on the mark." -- John Minsker

"Everyone always said that a book ought to be written about that unique and extraordinary man, Marcel Tabuteau. Now, at last, the book has arrived." -- Louis Rosenblatt

"Ms. Storch's style is descriptive, informative, and engaging -- a nice blend between the historical and the personal. This volume gets my vote as the winning historical profile of one of the most influential and revered performers and pedagogues of our time -- Marcel Tabuteau. A must for every serious musician's library." -- Linda Strommen, Indiana University

"... Storch's intriguing book will appeal to a broad audience, not just oboists. Anyone interested in music will find Tabuteau's philosophies and Storch's research beneficial and applicable." -- Choice, January 2009

"... This book will be informative, interesting, and beneficial for anyone who is involved with the performance of music in the United States, whether in the field or in academe." -- Lois Kuyper-Rushing, Louisiana State University, Notes, June 2009

"Laila Storch... is generous in her admiration of [Marcel Tabuteau's] compelling artistry. She has produced a monumental tribute to an extraordinary musician whose influence remains alive in each generation of American oboists." -- Anthony McColl, Double Reed News, 87 Summer 2009

From the Publisher
"[Storch's] personal descriptions of what it was like to study with this mercurial genius are absolutely fascinating; they provide indispensable glimpses for this generation of oboe students, not to mention future ones." --Dan Stolper, Oboe Instructor, Interlochen Centre for the Arts

Customer Reviews

My Mentor Also
Laila Storch's new biography of Marcel Tabuteau is ennobled by her admiration for and devotion to her great teacher. It is a work that not only portrays a colorful, archetypal genius of America's orchestral history; it illuminates the time-honored and quintessential nature of apprenticeship, with the master a conduit to the pupil of esoteric information and inspiration. Like a mama bird, a great teacher nourishes eager students and infuses them with a genetic necessity to fly on their own---in this case to give wings to a song sung by a piece of grass and a stick of wood! This book is a radiant tribute to the performer's art.

The Father of Oboe as I Know It.
The photos are wonderful, the stories fill out the character of a man I've known of for decades as the father or grandfather of my playing style, but knew very little about. I studied with Harold Gomberg, a student of Tabuteau, and I am delighted to have this volume to make real an amazing musician and a vital influence in the world of double reed playing in America. Check out Mr. Tabuteau with the salmon on page 347.

Fantastic Book, Terrific Production Values!
My copy of Laila Storch's book just arrived in the US Post, and what a surprise! First off all, the Amazon.com box was a heck of a lot heavier than I thought it would be. I was expecting this book to be a fairly slim volume of reminiscences and maybe some explication of Tabuteau's teaching and theories.

But it is SO much more! It is an absolutely vital, comprehensive memoir by Ms. Storch, who herself has clearly had a really interesting life so far, as well as just about every possible thing one could hope to know about Marcel Tabuteau.

As a book publisher myself since 1985 -- and a proud alumnus of Indiana University, whose Press published this book -- I've got to beam about production values: This is a 600+ page book, gorgeously bound in "British racing green" linen covers, a smart-looking jacket with a great photo of the master himself, golden binder's bands top and bottom at the glued AND sewn (!) binding, printed on a super premium matte / semi-gloss finish, heavy pure white paper. It's just a beautiful production job, really what books should look like, and I am so proud to be a publisher right now, holding and beholding this thing.

There are some absolutely terrific archival photos, too. My favorite, having leafed through the book in 10 minutes or so, is on page 166, "The Philadelphia Orchestra Ensemble, 1923," which includes Tabuteau, famous bassoonist Ferdinand Del Negro and super-famous flautist William Kincaid, all in their handsome youth.

But wait, there's more: A bonus audio CD is blister-packed at the back of the book, containing what could be Tabuteau's last recordings, made in his home in Nice, with excerpts PLAYED FROM MEMORY (no sheet music in the apartment). Not bad for a near-77-year old, even if he did do this all of his life.

It's an honor to own this book, Ms. Storch. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!