Max Hobart (BSO violin, 1957-1991) oral history interview: Hobart, Max, interviewee (Side A); Lucien Hansotte (BSO trombone, 1925-1948?) oral history interview: Miller, Marcelle Hansotte, interviewee (Side B), November 22, 1994; April 4, 1995, 2023-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 69: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on November 22, 1994 (Side A); Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on April 4, 1995 (Side B).

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 69, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Max Hobart Date: November 22, 1994

0:09 RECORDING BEGINS: MAX HOBART CONT'D

0:09-2:31 consistent requests to take on other responsibilities in the orchestra

2:31-3:08 audition for third chair when George ZAZOFSKY left; auditioned at Tanglewood with STEINBERG

3:08-13:53 conducted as a substitute for KRIPPS; as acting assistant concertmaster, FIEDLER made him conduct as a test; had studied conducting in college; filled in with various groups; Rolland TAPLEY had conducted the Wellesley Orchestra, North Shore Philharmonic and New Hampshire; Max took over North Shore Philharmonic and Civic Symphony in Boston from him; story of conducting for the Pops at Tanglewood last-minute when John WILLIAMS was ill

13:53-14:15 teaching experience

14:15-20:43 serious shoulder pain towards the end of his time with the BSO; requested a sabbatical from OZAWA, but he would not make a concession for Max; had to take sick leave and ultimately retire from the orchestra

20:43-24:45 retirement life; has continued to conduct; discussion of reviews for the Civic Symphony; discussion of conducting the Pops

25:16 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES

Tape 69, Side B

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Marcelle Hansotte Miller Subject: Lucien Hansotte Date: April 4, 1995

0:08 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:35-3:30 early life, born in 1893 in Liege, Belgium; moved to Switzerland after Lucien's mother passed away; came from a very musical family, father had a job at the opera house in Geneva, Switzerland; Lucien's brother was a concert pianist

3:30-9:24 was "thoroughly" trained as a musician; played piano and other instruments as well; studied at the Paris Conservatory during World War I; challenges of earning money to support himself; played for the Folie Bergere; taught at the Conservatoire de Geneve; met VOISIN at the Conservatory and remained close friends afterwards

9:24-11:30 after Conservatory, stayed with his father in Geneva for two years; then returned to Paris to perform and earn money; could not join the Parisian union because he was not French, but found many odd jobs and substitute positions; friendship with the LAFOSSE family

11:30-13:27 heard of auditions with the BSO through a contact and decided to audition for KOUSSEVITZKY while still in Paris; like many others, thought it was a temporary move and continued to return home in the summers

13:27-17:00 story of meeting his wife while traveling through the Pyrenees and the south of France; she was not musical; at first, family stayed in Paris when Lucien began at the BSO, then returned to the Pyrenees

17:00-22:14 family transitioned to live in Boston in 1932; lived near Symphony Hall; had an easy social life with many of the French members of the BSO

22:40-24:10 respected KOUSSEVITZKY but thought he was a showman; nickname for Madame Koussevitzky was "the eye of Moscow" since she always watched rehearsals;

24:10-25:41 memories of the Berkshires and the first years of Tanglewood; rented a cottage and had a wonderful time visiting every year

25:41-28:23 thought the rehearsal schedule was very reasonable; father taught privately with a limited number of students; had a good relationship with KOUSSEVITZKY; other trombonists including RAICHMAN, CIOFFI

28:23-29:44 memories of the Pops; did not get along well with Arthur FIEDLER

29:44-30:12 occasionally took on outside jobs, especially in churches with piano and organ

30:12-33:23 Lucien was an attentive father; Marcelle attended school near Symphony Hall; Lucien worked to study English, while Marcelle's mother did not study it;

33:23-34:38 was very dedicated to his music; liked sports and attended baseball games

34:38-36:30 Tanglewood changed his travel plans back and forth to Belgium and France; but nuclear family was with him; Marcelle enjoyed time in the Berkshires;

36:30-40:02 story from Lucien's student days in Paris; had many odd jobs because other people his age were at war; took on jobs on ship orchestras, including one in New Orleans where he ended up playing with a jazz orchestra; met Tommy Dorsey when he attended a BSO concert

40:02-49:54 retirement life; he retired the year that Marcelle was married; joined Yves CHARDON's orchestra in Orlando for ten years as a substitute; did not return to France very much after retirement; regularly attended jazz concerts during his retirement years

49:54 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES