Melvin Berman

ARTICLE CONTENTS: Writings  |  Discography  |  Bibliography

Berman, Melvin
Melvin Berman. Oboist, teacher, b Hartford, Conn, 28 Feb 1929, d 2 Apr 2008; B MUS (Hartford) 1949, M MUS (Hartford) 1950. Melvin Berman studied oboe with Clement Lenom and Harold Gomberg. He served as principal oboe with the CJRT Orchestra (Toronto Philharmonic), the MSO, the orchestras of the NFB and the CBC, several US orchestras, and, beginning in 1975, the COC. A founder of the Baroque Trio of Montreal and the Pro Arte Woodwind Quintet, Berman became a member of the Toronto Woodwind Quintet in 1971. He was a woodwind teacher at the University of Hartford in 1950, the CMM 1956-70, McGill University 1956-64, and a faculty member of the NYO 1969-79. In 1971 he began teaching at the University of Toronto, and in 1988 he was made head of woodwinds.

Berman composed a Quintet for Brass (1962, Berandol 1974). His films, The Oboe Reed and The Oboe (both University of Toronto Media Centre), were completed in 1972 and 1981 respectively. Berman's own Octagon Publications has issued his editions of octets by W.F.E. Bach and Josef Triebensee, as well as his arrangement for winds of A. Marcello's Concerto for Oboe. Melvin Berman has transcribed music by Bach and Mozart for wind ensemble.


Writings
Melvin Berman, 'The power of pops,' Fugue, May 1979

The Art of Oboe Reed Making (Toronto 1988)

Author William Schabas, Patricia Wardrop


Discography

Archer Divertimento. Iacurto clarinet, Moisan bass clarinet. 1962. RCI 192

A Baroque Bouquet: Bach - Telemann - Handel - et al. Weait bassoons, Gaylord piano. 1976. Berandol BER-9009

Jones Wind Quintet. Pro Arte Wind Quintet. 1971. RCI 355.

Sammartini - Jacob - Fleming - Hindemith. Gaylord piano. 1974. CBC SM-268

Telemann Sonatas. Jones harpsichord. 1963. Vox STPL-514020

Vivaldi Il Pastor fido. Jones harpsichord, Joachim violoncello. 1973. Orion 73115

Woodwind Octets of the 18th and 19th Centuries. 1984. Octagon Records OR-1001

See also Discographies for Baroque Trio of Montreal; Toronto Woodwind Quintet


Bibliography

Schulman, Michael. 'An oboeist [sic] talks about his instrument and orchestral life,' CanComp, 160, Apr 1981

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