Camden, Archie (actually, Archibald Leslie)
Camden, Archie (actually, Archibald Leslie)
Camden, Archie (actually, Archibald Leslie), virtuoso English bassoonist; b. Newark-upon-Trent, March 9, 1888; d. Wheathampstead, Feb. 16, 1979. He studied at the Royal Manchester Coll. of Music. In 1906 he joined the Hallé Orch. of Manchester, where he played first bassoon from 1914 to 1933. During the same period, he taught bassoon at the Royal Manchester Coll. of Music. In 1933 he joined the BBC Sym. Orch. in London, then played with the Royal Phil. (1946–47). He finally was a member of the London Mozart Players (1954–71). Camden did much to establish the bassoon as a solo instrument. His performances of works by Vivaldi, Mozart, and Weber were outstanding. His autobiography was publ, as Blow by Blow (London, 1982).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire