Posts in January 25, 2012

The day before the 2012 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and Bassoon Symposium start­ed, Stockton Symphony con­tra­bas­soon­ist Larry Rhodes (shown at right with San Francisco Symphony con­tra­bas­soon­ist Steve Braunstein) led a small group of us on a cane har­vest­ing expe­di­tion. Giant cane (Arundo don­ax), which we bas­soon­ists use to make our reeds, is clas­si­fied as an inva­sive pest in California. It tends to grow in streams or marshy areas, and is pri­mar­i­ly prop­a­gat­ed by pieces float­ing along water­ways and tak­ing root in new loca­tions. The area sur­round­ing Stockton, most of which is part of the San Joaquin River Delta, is host […]