Old news perhaps, but I’m just learning of it. Long-time principal bassoonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra Bernard Garfield has died at a venerable age.

Garfield served as Philadelphia’s principal for 43 years, from 1957 to 2000, which means I saw and heard him perform many times, in the latter part of his career (from 1984 forward), including as soloist in Strauss’ Duet-Concertino, with Anthony Gigliotti taking the clarinet part. In 1949, and until he moved to Philadelphia, he was principal bassoonist of the Little Orchestra Society of New York. He was offered his position in Philly by Eugene Ormandy without audition.

Garfield, who as an undergraduate studied NOT music, but English literature (at New York University), also received a master’s degree (from Columbia) in composition. I recall airing a bassoon quartet of his when I used to host the radio broadcasts of “Music from Marlboro.” Earlier, he did obtain an associate diploma from the Royal College of Music and, much later, an honorary doctorate from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he taught from 1976 to 2008. He also taught at Temple University from 1957 to 2004.

Garfield was a member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, which in fact he organized, from 1946 to 1957. Later, he performed in the Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet (replacing Sol Schoenbach), made up of principal players of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Garfield’s recordings as soloist in Philadelphia include works by Mozart, Haydn, and Weber.

Garfield served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was married for nearly 70 years. He died on April 29, closer to his 101st birthday than not. (He was born on May 27, 1924.)

R.I.P.

Period instruments be damned! Garfield plays the Mozart concerto:

Original compositions by Bernard Garfield, including his Bassoon Quartet No. 1

PHOTO: On stage at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music in 1960