Pierre Mayer (BSO assistant principal 2nd violin 1925-1963) oral history interview: Lee, Barbara, interviewee, Amos, Harold, interviewee (Side A); Eugene Lehner (BSO viola, 1939-1983) oral history interview: Lehner, Eugene, interviewee (Side B), July 12, 1993; July 31, 1993, 2023-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 41: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on July 12, 1993, Barbara Lee is the step-daughter of Pierre Mayer, Prof. Amos Harold of Harvard was a close friend of Pierre Mayer (Side A); Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on July 31, 1993 (Side B).

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 41, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Barbara Lee, Harold Amos Subject: Pierre Mayer Date: July 12, 1993 Location: Brookline, MA

0:10 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:33-2:07 early life, born in Paris in 1890; took up violin at a very young age because mother encouraged it; had three sisters and no brothers, was the youngest of all

2:07-3:08 Harold's relationship with Pierre began when a friend of Harold's rented the top room of the Mayer family house in Brookline

3:27-4:07 attended Paris Conservatory, finished at age 14 and quickly began earning money

4:07-6:35 in his first experience playing with a quartet, for which he was invited as a substitute, he performed in front of the Empress Eugenie and other select women

6:35-8:45 played in silent films to make money to support the family; performed with the artist FLAMENG and TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, both of whom offered him paintings that he turned down; had strong ideas about what constituted art

8:45-10:26 served in World War I; played in army band; when DEBUSSY was dying, Pierre and the quartet were pulled from the line to play for DEBUSSY

10:26-13:01 after the war, worked in a symphony in Geneva; heard of KOUSSEVITZKY in Boston and made his way to Boston to listen; Pierre had played in the Concert KOUSSEVITZKY in France; joined the BSO in 1925; traveled back to France between seasons

13:01-15:33 Barbara was 16 when she met Pierre; personal reflections on his relationship with Harry SHAPIRO; immersed himself in music and art

15:33-17:00 decided to relocate to Boston when he met Barbara's mother; Pierre's wife bought a house in Brookline while he was traveling for concerts; began to play the Pops and Esplanade

17:30-18:52 started off as assistant principal violinist when he entered the orchestra; sat next to ZUNG; felt that he should mind his own business and did not gossip

18:52-21:11 stories of ROUSSEL; ROUSSEL also had a job on the French line working on ships; Darius MILHAUD and RAVEL were also friends

21:33-23:04 HENSCHEL returned to guest conduct on the 50th anniversary of the orchestra in 1931

23:09-24:56 memories of KOUSSEVITZKY; story of HEIFETZ and KOUSSEVITZKY's conflict over recordings; Pierre admired HEIFETZ

24:56-30:20 memories of ANSERMET; playing with the Ballet Rousse; story of involvement in the first performance of the Rite of Spring (conducted by MONTEUX)

30:53-31:52 Pops and memories of Arthur FIEDLER; introduced himself as being a member of the Pops more than a member of BSO; admired FIEDLER

31:52-32:56 afraid of KOUSSEVITZKY, story of being encouraged to say goodbye to KOUSSEVITZKY by a tire accident

32:56-34:21 little solo work; was not a very good teacher, too impatient and hot-tempered; participated in some quartets;

34:21-35:25 Pierre's final reflections on the most important parts of his life: decision to join orchestra; decision to come to US; decision to marry his wife

36:07-40:08 Pierre's retirement from the orchestra around 1965; continued to practice after retirement, kept a garden, traveled to France

40:23-42:58 Pierre continued to rent rooms in the house after his wife died; Harold would go for meals and music on Sundays; would look at military slides together; received army decorations

42:58-43:58 reflections on Pierre's humor about his age; his enjoyment of music beyond the classical

43:58-47:47 discussion of Raoul DUFY's painting in Pierre's pantry, then portrait which was ultimately donated to the Louvre; memories of conversations with DUFY and MUNCH

47:47-49:08 stories of relationship with the TRAPTMAN (SP) family of composers

49:44 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES

Tape 41, Side B

0:08 RECORDING BEGINS: EUGENE LEHNER CONT'D

0:08-1:41 when orchestra was in New York, would spend time with Julliard quartet; continued to have many conversations about music in New York and Boston;

1:41-11:25 family life, met wife Luca at one of his concerts, and were quickly married; knew art very well and studied it, also studied piano; mostly played from memory; son is a high school principal;

11:25-15:12 coaching and teaching experience with New England Conservatory, Boston University, Berkshire Music School; continues to teach into retirement; Bob Ripley tells story of Eugene coming into rehearsal upset about his teaching

16:11 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES