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Julius Baker

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For the English cartoonist, seeJulius Stafford Baker.
Julius Baker
Born(1915-09-23)September 23, 1915
Cleveland,Ohio
DiedAugust 6, 2003(2003-08-06)(aged 87)
Danbury,Connecticut
GenresOrchestral
Occupation(s)Flautist,teacher
Instrument(s)Flute
Years active1937–2003
Websitejuliusbaker.com
External audio
audio iconYou may hear Julius Baker performing Antonio Vivaldi'sFlute-Bassoon Concerto in G Minorwith Karl Hoffmann, bassoon andAntonio Janigroconducting Solisti de Zagreb in 1964Here

Julius Baker(September 23, 1915 – August 6, 2003) was one of the foremost American orchestralfluteplayers. During the course of five decades he concertized with several of America's premier orchestral ensembles including theChicago Symphonyand theNew York Philharmonic Orchestra.[1][2]

Background[edit]

Baker was born inCleveland, Ohio,and at age nine started flute lessons with his Jewish-Russian immigrant father. Later he studied with August Caputo and local flautist Robert Morris. He attended theEastman School of Music,where he was pupil ofLeonardo De Lorenzo,and theCurtis Institute,where he studied withWilliam Kincaidand had classes withMarcel Tabuteau.Upon graduation in 1937, Baker returned to Cleveland to play second flute in theCleveland Orchestra,conducted byArtur Rodziński,and in the section led by Maurice Sharp.[3][4]He went on to a distinguished and long tenure as principal flute in theNew York Philharmonic.

Career[edit]

Teaching, performing[edit]

Juilliard School- Alice Tully Hall

Julius Baker was well known as a teacher and served as a faculty member at theJuilliard Schoolfrom 1954,[5]theCurtis Institute of Musicfrom 1980, andCarnegie Mellon Universityfrom 1991. He made many recordings with conductors such asBruno WalterandLeonard Bernstein,and played second flute with theCleveland Orchestrafrom 1937 to 1941.[6]

Baker emerged as principal flautist with thePittsburgh Symphony OrchestraunderFritz Reinerfrom 1941 to 1943, theCBS Symphony OrchestraunderAlfredo Antoniniat theCBSnetwork in New York City (1943-1951),[7]with theChicago Symphony OrchestraunderRafael Kubelikfrom 1951 to 1953, and subsequently with theNew York Philharmonicfor 18 years, beginning in 1965 under such legendary conductors as:Leonard Bernstein,Pierre BoulezandZubin Mehta.[8][9][10]During that time he also played in theColumbia Symphony Orchestra.[11]

Baker loved chamber music and was one of the founding members of theBach Aria Group,with whom he played from 1946 to 1964.[12][13][14][15]Baker also performed on several notable film scores, includingThe Little Mermaid,Beauty and the BeastandLovesick.In addition, he appeared opposite violinistOscar Shumskyin filming Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, with pianist and conductorGlenn GouldforCBC Television.[16]Baker also collaborated with Glenn Gould, the violinistRafael Druianand members of theNew York Philharmonicin a recording of Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenberg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049.[17]

In addition to film, Baker was also featured on network television in such noted programs as:The Dick Cavett Showin 1971 and thePublic Broadcasting ServiceseriesGreat Performancesin 1995.[18]

Orchestra Hallat the Symphony Center in Chicago

Baker gave the first American performance with orchestra of theIbert Flute Concertoin 1948 with the CBS Symphony under the direction of Alfredo Antonini for Voice of America, and that concert was later issued on his own label, Oxford Records.[19]Baker also collaborated with his friendJohn Serry, Sr.during his tenure atCBSand produced a demonstration recording in 1951 of Mr. Serry's compositions for flute and accordion entitledLa CulebraandDesert Rumba,both of which were dedicated to Baker.[20][21] [22][23][24]

Baker retired from the New York Philharmonic in 1983 in order to devote himself to playing recitals programs and concertos around the United States, Europe and Asia.[2]

In 1997 and 1999 he was jury member at the International Flute Competition "Leonardo De Lorenzo",held every two years inViggiano,Italy.[25]

Avery Fisher Hallwith Henry Moore sculpture

The Oxford Recording Company[edit]

Baker was also an electronics buff and amateur ham radio operator. He built audio equipment upon which he taped his early solo recordings. TheFlute Talkarticle explained, "His interest in electronics developed into The Oxford Recording Company, a mail-order business he ran out of his home and which produced five of his flute recordings between 1946 and 1951.

Notable pupils[edit]

External videos
video iconYou may see Julius Baker performing withGlenn Gouldin Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 for theCBC Televisiondocumentary "Glenn Gould on Bach" in 1962
Here on bing.com
video iconPhotograph of Julius Baker recording with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in 1948
Here on Getty Images.co.nz

Death[edit]

Julius Baker died in 2003, aged 87.

Discography[edit]

External audio
audio iconYou may hear Julius Baker performingClaude Debussy'sPrelude to the Afternoon of a Faunwith Lisa Emenheiser, piano in 1982Here
audio iconYou may hear Julius Baker performing the Allegro fromWolfgang Amadeus Mozart'sConcerto for Flute, Harp, and OrchestraK. 299 withAntonio Janigroconducting I Solists de ZagrebHere on archive.org

Serenade In D Major, Op. 25andTrio In C Minor Op. 9, No. 3(Decca, 1953)[26]

Poem For Flute And OrchestraandA Night Piece For Flute And String Quartet(Decca, 1952)[27]

Eighteenth Century Flute DuetswithJean-Pierre Rampal(1959)

The Virtuoso Flutewith theVienna State Opera Orchestra(Vanguard, 1967)

The Art of Julius Baker(Desmar, 1977)

Julius Baker in Recital(VAI 1993)

The Virtuoso Flute Vol. 2(1996)

WithColeman Hawkins

Archive[edit]

  • The Julius Baker Collectionat the Juilliard School of Music Peter J. Sharp Special Collections contains Baker's collection of 1,900 published scores and 275 manuscript scores.[28]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Julius Baker website
  2. ^abAllan, Kozinn (8 August 2003)."Julius Baker, Principal Flutist Of Philharmonic, Dies at 87".New York Times.Retrieved23 July2012.
  3. ^Flute Talk,October 2003.
  4. ^Larry Huffman."Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Musicians: A Chronological Listing".Stokowski.RetrievedApril 28,2014.
  5. ^The New York Times,August 9, 2003, Page B6.
  6. ^"Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians: Centennial Edition". Slonimsky, Nicholas editor. Schirmer Books, New York NY, 2001. Vol.1 pg. 188 ISBN 0-02-865526-5
  7. ^"Sunday Selections"Toledoo Blade,June 12, 1948 p. 65 on Google Books
  8. ^The New York Times,November 17, 1964, Page 48.
  9. ^The New York Times,May 6, 1983, Page C26.
  10. ^"Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians: Centennial Edition". Slonimsky, Nicholas editor. Schirmer Books, New york NY, 2001. Vol.1 pg. 188 ISBN 0-02-865526-5
  11. ^Juius Baker, Principal Flutist of Philharmonic, Dies at 87.Alann Kozinn.The New York TimesAugust 8, 2003 p. Arts Section on nytimes.com
  12. ^The New York Times,November 6, 1947, Page 34.
  13. ^The New York Times,January 25, 1948, Page X7.
  14. ^The New York Times,February 17, 1949, Page 28.
  15. ^The New York Times,November 12, 1949, Page 8.
  16. ^CBC Television: Glenn Gould lecturer and conductor with Julius Baker and Oscar Shumsky performing Bach's Brandenbur Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050 on bing.com
  17. ^Glenn Gould At Work: Creative LyingAndrew Kazdin. Dutton, 1989 p. 171 Glenn Gould & Julius Baker & Rafael Druian collaborating with Glenn Gould on books.google.com
  18. ^Julius Bakeron imdb.com
  19. ^The New York Public Library Archives and manuscripts: "Voice of America Collection of Radio Broadcasts" June 13, 1948 Alfredo Antonini & Julius Baker on archives.nypl.org
  20. ^JuliCat:John Serry Sr., La Culebra and Julius Baker - See hand written dedication notes on Page # 3 of the score: "written for and dedicated to my friend Julius Baker"on library.juilliard.edu
  21. ^Julicat:John Serry Sr., Desert Rumba and Julius Baker - See hand written dedication notes on Page # 3 of the score: "written for and dedicated to my friend Julius Baker"on library.juilliard.edu
  22. ^Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection Series 4- Item #6 p. 18, 10 "audio disc recording of" Desert Rhumba "&" The Rattlesnake "(La Culebra)" composer John Serry, flautist Julie Baker "in the John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music Sibley Music Library Special collections on esm.rochester.edu
  23. ^"African Bolero", "Desert Rhumba" Musical Scores, Composer John Serry, Dedicatee Julius Baker. See John Serry on Worldcat.org
  24. ^"La Culebra" Musical Score, Composer John Serry, Dedicatee Julius Baker. See John Serry on worldcat.org
  25. ^"International Flute Competition" Leonardo De Lorenzo ""(PDF).concorsodelorenzo.it.RetrievedMay 4,2016.
  26. ^"Beethoven*, Julius Baker, Joseph Fuchs, Lillian Fuchs, Harry Fuchs - Serenade In D Major, Op. 25 For Flute, Violin And Viola / Trio In C Minor, Op. 9, No. 3 For Violin, Viola And Cello".Discogs.Retrieved2020-09-23.
  27. ^"Julius Baker - Poem For Flute And Orchestra / A Night Piece For Flute And String Quartet".Discogs.Retrieved2020-09-23.
  28. ^The Juilliard School - Peter J. Sharp Special Collections - Julius Baker Special Collections on juilliard.edu

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Julius_Baker&oldid=1212654877"