London alert for stolen bassoon
mainOur friend, the bassoonist and academic Francesca Carpos, has suffered a distressing house burglary.
Among the items taken were two greatly cherished bassoons
Please put the word around:
STOLEN from Francesca Carpos: Two bassoons: Fox model 601 serial number: 25482… and a black plastic Fox bassoon (with ‘Kilburn School’ etched in the plastic). They were stolen on 21st November from her home in London. The Fox 601 is tiger striped, and is in an unusual small rectangle case. It is set up with a knee support. The black plastic Fox is easily identifiable by the large scratched ‘Kilburn School’ on the tenor joint. It is in a rucksack gig bag with a seat strap. Please contact the police, call reference, CHS 36213 21/11/19, with any information.
” Labour’s equivocal position encourages insidious forms of antisemitism. ”
I wish he’d have elucidated.
?
I see. Bassons and circumcision.
Bassoons, sorry.
Either way, its a non-sequitur, at best.
Which burglar is crazy enough to steal bassoons? Given the size, and the difficulty of selling them, the only answer seems to be it was, or were, fanatic player(s) in need. The mind boggles.
The mind does indeed boggle! Burglars presumably have a limited capacity for carrying the loot they steal. We know they stole other items and so 2 bassoons must have severely hampered them in the volume and weight of those other items they could carry off. Unless, of course, they had some form of commission specifically to steal the bassoons. An average burglar is surely unlikely to have a clue what a bassoon is and so have little idea of its worth when attempting to dispose of it.
As a former bassoonist: If I’d go to steal one I certainly wouldn’t go for a plastic Fox!
What is the point of stealing these specialist instruments, surely no one will buy these ?
A bassoonist or bassoon student might. Just sayin’
A Fox 601 is a great instrument. Of course someone would buy it if the price is right – changing the serial number is easy enough. The plastic one is another matter. They’re great for playing outdoor gigs, and that’s about it. I hope she gets them back – maybe alert IDRS members will see them. Replacing bassoons and then matching them to a great bocal is quite trying. Were they insured? Hope so.
friend of mine’s saxophone was stolen from the house – they found it down the road in a hedge, luckily still in it’s case and unharmed
There’s a precedent for such a burglary. Forty years ago Gwydion Brooke’s bassoon was stolen from his house. He had been principal in the Philharmonia for many years and the RPO before that. His work is to be heard on many records including the Mozart concerto with Beecham.
And, iirc, he never played again.
And what about his amazing Mozart violin concerto transcription?!!!!
The thief must have been very determined. Imagine, sawing off two bedposts and then climbing out the window, dealing with the bushes, and having the nerve to walk down the high street farting away.
Best case scenarios:
Two very poor burglars desperate to learn the bassoon
Or
They are in a hedge unharmed (as above).
Worst case:
You know what that is …
Pondlife no doubt!