Simon Kovar
Simon Kovar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 May 1890 Vilnius, Russia |
| Died | 17 January 1970 (aged 79) Encino, California, U.S. |
| Instrument(s) | Bassoon |
Simon Kovar (May 15, 1890 – January 17, 1970) was a 20th-century bassoonist and one of the most renowned teachers of the instrument.
Simon Kovar was born Simon Kovarski in Vilnius, Russian Empire, in 1890. He took up the bassoon at age 20 after originally studying the violin. Kovar came to the United States in June 1922, settling in New York City, where he took the position of second bassoonist with the New York Philharmonic and was then first bassoonist for many years.[1] He was highly regarded as a teacher and was head of the bassoon faculty at the Juilliard School of Music for 28 years.[1] Kovar also taught at Teachers College at Columbia University, the Music Academy of the West, and the Curtis Institute of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, and the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. His students ranged from top orchestra bassoonists, including Sol Schoenbach and Bernard Garfield to jazz musicians, including saxophonists Stan Getz[2] and Ray Pizzi.[3][4]
His 24 Daily Studies for Bassoon, written in the late 1950s, are considered first-rate practice exercises for the bassoon.
In the 1950s, Kovar moved to Encino, California,[5] where he continued teaching almost until the time of his death in 1970[6] from complications related to emphysema. He was survived by his wife Rose Kovar and two daughters, Eleanor Imber, also a professional bassoonist, and Leah Herzberg.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Noted Bassoonist Again Heads Academy Woodwind Section". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, CA. June 17, 1956. p. 27. Retrieved August 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hamlin, Jesse (2004-05-21). "In lovely whispers and piercing wails, saxophonist Stan Getz found the bittersweet heart of jazz and bossa nova". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-01-21.
- ^ Stewart, Zan (January 14, 1990). "Pizzi's Honor". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. pp. 103, 106 107. Retrieved August 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Price, Tim (January 1991). "Ray Pizzi Interview: The Pizza Man! He Delivers". www.timpricejazz.com. Retrieved 2006-01-21.
- ^ Paulding, Litti (July 6, 1958). "Miraflores Tea a Friendly Idea". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, CA. p. 26. Retrieved August 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Simon Kovar". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. January 18, 1970. p. 42. Retrieved August 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
External links[edit]
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- American classical bassoonists
- 1890 births
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- Lithuanian Jews
- Lithuanian emigrants to the United States
- Academic staff of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal
- Deaths from emphysema
- American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent
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