Hironaka Sugie (BSO viola, 1970-1971, exchange with Japan Philharmonic Orchestra) oral history interview: Sugie, Hironaka, interviewee (Side A); Earl Hedberg (BSO viola, 1956-1982) oral history interview: Hedberg, Earl, interviewee (Side B), June 15, 1993; June 16, 1993, 2023-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 42: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on June 15, 1993 (Side A); Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on July 16, 1993 (Side B).

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 42, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Hironaka Sugie Location: Tokyo, Japan Date: June 16, 1993

0:06 INTERVIEW BEGINS

1:07-2:25 early life; parents were not musical but encouraged him to pursue it; siblings did not play instruments

2:25-4:45 Studied at Musahino Music College for seven years after WWII; played with Tokyo Philharmonic as extra player

5:10-7:13 joined Tokyo Philharmonic after school, spent three years with it, then auditioned for Japan Philharmonic as it paid better; auditioned for WATANABE; played three years violin then 10 on viola

7:15-8:55 exchange program began in 1966; was not originally interested in it; was selected by Seiji OZAWA

8:55-10:54 one daughter and wife came to Boston with him; challenges of speaking English; enjoyed Boston but has not returned since

10:54-12:44 impressions of STEINBERG; friendships in the orchestra with HUMPHREY, ROTENBERG, GREENE

12:44-18:43 first performance with the BSO; had to learn a lot of the repertoire; traveled to Europe with the BSO; did not have a car while living in Boston; comparison of work expectations in Japan versus Boston; many more per week in Boton than in the Japan Philharmonic; impressions of the BSO's balanced sound quality

18:43-21:26 experience with the Pops and Arthur FIEDLER; story of FIEDLER's attentiveness to time; played Esplanade instead of Tanglewood

21:26-22:59 overall impressions of Boston very positive; good experience for himself and for his family; found some Japanse friends in Boston

23:00-23:52 return home to Japan; stayed with Japan Philharmonic for one year before the split; became Librarian for the Japan Philharmonic, was both viola and Librian until recent retirement from viola

24:25-25:56 personal reflections; hobbies, children and grandchildren

26:14 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES

Tape 42, Side B

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Earl Hedberg Date: July 16, 1993 Location: Lee, MA

0:09 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:23-5:55 early life; born in Rhode Island; only musician among his siblings, though parents played violin and piano; father discouraged him from becoming a professional musician; played a lot of miscellaneous music from aunts' music store; studied under Charles HAWES in fourth grade

5:55-9:23 played in high school orchestra; played with Providence Symphony Society when he had to pay to play with them; studied under George JORDAN in Providence and George FOREL; played with Sasha JACOBSEN on viola and was encouraged to continue on viola

9:23-11:16 encouraged to audition for Berkshire Music School; joined for first season; alternating playing first viola with **; memories of MAGER

11:34-14:53 army service; was drafted to 104th Infantry; played music when he could be away from military service;

14:53-18:10 acquired his loaned viola through friendship with BROWN family in Providence; but did not take this viola with him while he in the military service; family had a collection of very nice instruments

18:10-20:01 went to Minneapolis with MITROPOULOS; had intended to audition but performed at Tanglewood successsfully and was invited; went to Cleveland for a year under SZELL

20:01-23:24 came to Boston; auditioned for MUNCH while off from Cleveland; DE PASQUALE turned pages for him; auditioned with a piece he had never seen before; told of his acceptance on the day of the audition

23:24-24:08 New Quartet in Cleveland with Kurt LOBEL, LEONARD, and TROUTWINE;

24:08-26:24 settled in Medfield; was invited to play Esplanade concerts with FIEDLER; running joke with Arthur FIEDLER about time; good sense of humor

26:24-29:21 impression of the BSO; positive memories of playing for MUNCH; memories of STOKOWSKY's rehearsal style

29:21-31:24 the Gabrieli trio, made of three who each had Gabrieli instruments; performed together

31:24-33:52 Zimbler Symphoneta trip to South America; played in Tanglewood, then toured Europe

33:52-34:25 taught viola at Wellesley; no longer plays violin

34:25-36:06 story of a violin he has kept during and after his military service; was repaired by PIETROPAOLO

36:06-37:13 did not do much solo work; performed once with SILVERMAN's quartet

37:27-42:00 personal life; met wife in Sunday school but were married after military service; son was born while he was at Berkshire Music School, so Earl left to care for the baby; son survived esophageal surgery and is now a Lutheran minister;

42:00-43:06 story of Richard BURGIN; had performed in Ann Arbor and were riding back on the bus; BURGIN's commentary about conductors to this student

43:12-44:37 story of carpool with RIPLEY and others; this was "one of the pleasures of going to work"

44:37 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES