British Double Reed Society
Encyclopedia
The British Double Reed Society (BDRS) is a society for players of double reed
instruments in the United Kingdom
and around the world. It was founded in 1988 to "promote and enhance the interests of all double reed
players, whether students, amateurs, professionals or teachers". Primarily, the Society's members are British
players of the oboe
and bassoon
. Some specialise in the cor anglais
, contrabasson
or French bassoon.
convention at the Royal Northern College of Music
in Manchester
in 1989 and has since flourished as a society in its own right.
The current chair of the Society is Robert Codd and the joint presidents are Roger Birnstingl
and Karl Jenkins
.
The BDRS is a registered charity
.
Double reed
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. The term double reed comes from the fact that there are two pieces of cane vibrating against each other. A single reed consists of one piece of cane which vibrates against a mouthpiece made of metal, hardened...
instruments in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and around the world. It was founded in 1988 to "promote and enhance the interests of all double reed
Double reed
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. The term double reed comes from the fact that there are two pieces of cane vibrating against each other. A single reed consists of one piece of cane which vibrates against a mouthpiece made of metal, hardened...
players, whether students, amateurs, professionals or teachers". Primarily, the Society's members are British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
players of the oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
and 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...
. Some specialise in the cor anglais
Cor anglais
The cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
, contrabasson
Contrabassoon
The contrabassoon, also known as the double bassoon or double-bassoon, is a larger version of the bassoon, sounding an octave lower...
or French bassoon.
About the society
The Society was originally established by George Caird, William Waterhouse and others to host the International Double Reed SocietyInternational Double Reed Society
The International Double Reed Society is a Finksburg, Maryland-based organization that promotes the interests of double reed players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts....
convention at the Royal 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...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1989 and has since flourished as a society in its own right.
The current chair of the Society is Robert Codd and the joint presidents are 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...
and Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
.
The BDRS is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
.
Main activities
The Society offers offering a wide range of services as well as providing a forum for the interchange of expertise, knowledge and opinion on all matters relating to double reed instruments.- Publication of quarterly magazine Double Reed News
- Annual convention, featuring recitals, masterclasses, workshops, seminars, reed-making and trade stands
- Regional conventions, providing members with the benefits of the annual convention in more remote parts of the country