A new Internet friend shared this gem with me (click for slightly larger):
If you know these pieces (I’m familiar with all but the Howden—anybody know this one?), you know that this is a very impressive program. None of these are filler pieces, and the Mozart and the Ibert strike me as particularly large and challenging.
I like the use of the understated term “instrumentalist” here. And I’m glad that smoking in the recital hall is no longer an issue.
I asked the person who sent me this, a member of Mr. Tootelian’s family, if it would be all right if I shared this with my readers. Mr. Tootelian, now retired, kindly gave his consent.
Update, August 2012: I was saddened to hear from Mr. Tootelian’s family about his passing last month. No doubt he has gone on to a place where the reeds are always good. Rest in peace. —BP
I studied with Bob Tootelian in 1956-57, and he was a very impressive guy. He was the #1 woodwind doubler in Chicago for many years and played all the big touring shows that came through Chicago.
I went to his apartment in Rogers Park several times for oboe and oboe reed making lessons, and was blown away by his collection of woodwinds. He had a whole room full of them — every flute, double reed, clarinet and saxophone imaginable. I had never even seen many of them before.
And he played and taught all of them at a very high professional level. Never met anyone since quite like him. He inspired me to pursue doubling, even though I was often discouraged by my music teachers because it was going to “wreck my lip”. I now have a room full of woodwinds, similar to what I saw back then at Bob’s apartment.
Great memories. Rest in peace “Toot”.