Hugo Fox (February 2, 1897 in
South Whitley, Indiana
South Whitley is a town in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,751 at the 2010 census. South Whitley is a town in the Midwestern tradition of red brick buildings and tree-lined streets.
History ...
– December 29, 1969 in South Whitley, Indiana) was an American
classical bassoonist
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuos ...
. He also designed and manufactured
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
s and
oboe
The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range.
A ...
s.
Fox studied the bassoon with Adolph Weiss, a member of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...
. In 1921, he studied with Walter Guetter, the principal bassoonist of the CSO. The following year, he took over Guetter's post, at his recommendation, and remained in that capacity from 1922 to 1949. He also taught at
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
from 1936 to 1950. In 1949, Fox founded the
Fox Products Corporation, which made bassoons and oboes. The company is a supplier of
double reed
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. In contrast with a single reed instrument, where the instrument is played by channeling air against one piece of cane which vibrates against the mouthpiece and c ...
instruments. His son, Alan Fox, was a founding member of the
International Double Reed Society
The International Double Reed Society (IDRS), is an organization that promotes the interests of double reed players, instrument manufacturers and enthusiasts. Services provided by the IDRS include an international oboe and bassoon competition, an ...
and took over Fox Products in 1960.
[Linda Lipp]
"Fox keeps in tune with musicians’ needs ,"
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, June 6, 2014.
In 1979, the International Double Reed Society created the annual Fernand Gillet-Hugo Fox International Competition for
oboists and bassoonists in honor of the oboist
Fernand Gillet and Hugo Fox.
References
External links
Fox Products history
1897 births
1969 deaths
American classical bassoonists
People from South Whitley, Indiana
20th-century American musicians
20th-century classical musicians
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