Archie Camden was a British bassoon

Bassoon

The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...

ist; he was a pedagogue and soloist of international acclaim. His career began in 1906 when he joined the Hallé Orchestra where he became principal bassoonist in 1914. In 1933 he moved to the BBC Symphony Orchestra

BBC Symphony Orchestra

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...

, where he stayed until 1946 when he took up the same position in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...

. Camden was also one of the first bassonists to experiment with recording. His record of the Mozart bassoon concerto still remains one of the most popular today.

As a teacher, he was a professor of the bassoon at the Royal Manchester (now Northern) College of Music

Royal Northern College of Music

The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...

 from 1914 to 1933; he later taught at the Royal College of Music

Royal College of Music

The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...

 in London. His most famous students included Roger Birnstingl

Roger Birnstingl

Roger Birnstingl is a prominent British classical bassoonist. He studied with Archie Camden at the Royal College of Music in London. He has served as principal bassoonist of the London Philharmonic , the Royal Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra...

, Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman (bassoonist)

Michael Chapman was a British classical bassoonist and reed-maker.His playing, characterized by an ability to weave long, sustained, singing lines and deliver powerful utterances, has influenced subsequent generations of British bassoonists, including Rex Liu and Joseph Niesyto...

, and Martin Gatt

Martin Gatt

Martin Gatt is a British classical bassoonist. He studied under Archie Camden at the Royal College of Music in London. He served as principal bassoonist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra from 1958 to 1966, after which he was appointed the principal bassoonist of the English Chamber Orchestra...

. He also conducted the London Stock Exchange Orchestra.

In 1962, Camden published his book "Bassoon Technique." He was awarded an OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

in 1969.