Ralph Gomberg
Encyclopedia
Ralph Gomberg was the principal (first) oboist
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
for 37 years (1950-1987). His brother Harold
held the same chair with the New York Philharmonic
for much of the same period (1943-1977).
Ralph Gomberg was born in the West End of Boston
, Massachusetts
, the youngest of seven musically gifted siblings. The family decamped to Philadelphia so that one of the boys could study violin at the Curtis Institute of Music
where they had heard students were admitted on merit and went tuition-free.
At age 14 Ralph also started studying at the Curtis with the great oboe teacher Marcel Tabuteau
who had taught his brother Harold. Ralph was the youngest student ever accepted by Tabuteau. He went on to graduate from the Curtis, as had four of his siblings before him.
At age 18 Ralph Gomberg became the first oboist in a youth orchestra directed by Leopold Stokowski
. Gomberg was then recruited in 1941 by Eugene Ormandy
to play for the US Navy in Baltimore
. After a year of this, Gomberg left for Los Angeles
to care for an ill brother. While there, he received a call from a young conductor in New York named Leonard Bernstein
who was looking for a first oboist for his City Center Orchestra and hired him on the phone. While playing for the City Center Orchestra in New York, Gomberg also played for the Mutual Broadcasting Orchestra and founded the New York Woodwind Quintet
.
In 1950 he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra and held the principal oboe chair with the BSO for 37 years until he retired. A renowned teacher, Ralph Gomberg served on the faculty of Boston University
, New England Conservatory, and Tanglewood Music Center
. Many of his former students now perform in leading symphony orchestras all over the world including principal oboe and English horn players in Chicago Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, San Francisco Symphony
, Toronto Symphony, Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona
, the Boston Pops, and Israel Philharmonic.
He died at age 85 in a hospice in Massachusetts of primary lateral sclerosis
. His wife, Sydelle, was Director of the Boston Ballet School, the school of Boston Ballet Company.
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
for 37 years (1950-1987). His brother Harold
Harold Gomberg
Harold Gomberg was the principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic from 1943 through 1977....
held the same chair with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
for much of the same period (1943-1977).
Ralph Gomberg was born in the West End of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the youngest of seven musically gifted siblings. The family decamped to Philadelphia so that one of the boys could study violin at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
where they had heard students were admitted on merit and went tuition-free.
At age 14 Ralph also started studying at the Curtis with the great oboe teacher Marcel Tabuteau
Marcel Tabuteau
Marcel Tabuteau was a French oboist who is generally considered the founder of the American school of oboe playing.-Life:...
who had taught his brother Harold. Ralph was the youngest student ever accepted by Tabuteau. He went on to graduate from the Curtis, as had four of his siblings before him.
At age 18 Ralph Gomberg became the first oboist in a youth orchestra directed by Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
. Gomberg was then recruited in 1941 by Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy was a Hungarian-born conductor and violinist.-Early life:Born Jenő Blau in Budapest, Hungary, Ormandy began studying violin at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music at the age of five...
to play for the US Navy in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. After a year of this, Gomberg left for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to care for an ill brother. While there, he received a call from a young conductor in New York named Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
who was looking for a first oboist for his City Center Orchestra and hired him on the phone. While playing for the City Center Orchestra in New York, Gomberg also played for the Mutual Broadcasting Orchestra and founded the New York Woodwind Quintet
New York Woodwind Quintet
The New York Woodwind Quintet is an ensemble-in-residence at the Juilliard School in New York City, originally appointed in 1987. At Juilliard, the members of the New York Woodwind Quintet present seminars each year for student woodwind ensembles, give regular coachings, and perform.The quintet's...
.
In 1950 he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra and held the principal oboe chair with the BSO for 37 years until he retired. A renowned teacher, Ralph Gomberg served on the faculty of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, New England Conservatory, and Tanglewood Music Center
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops designed to provide an intense training and networking experience...
. Many of his former students now perform in leading symphony orchestras all over the world including principal oboe and English horn players in Chicago Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, Toronto Symphony, Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona
The Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Barcelona, Spain.-History:In addition to the Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu, founded in 1847 and devoted to opera and ballet, Barcelona has had several symphonic orchestras since 1888...
, the Boston Pops, and Israel Philharmonic.
He died at age 85 in a hospice in Massachusetts of primary lateral sclerosis
Primary lateral sclerosis
Primary lateral sclerosis is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness in the voluntary muscles. PLS belongs to a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases...
. His wife, Sydelle, was Director of the Boston Ballet School, the school of Boston Ballet Company.
External links
- Ralph Gomberg, 85, Oboist With the Boston Symphony, Dies, obituary written by Daniel J. Wakin, published in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, December 12, 2006 - The BSO's Ralph Gomberg: an Oboist and a Gentleman, profile written by Caroline Smedvig for BSO, the newsletter of the Boston Symphony Orchestra