Wayne Rapier

I knew Wayne from his time in the Philadelphia orchestra, and performed with him on several occasions including what was probably the first performance of the Duo for oboe and bassoon by George Rochberg that I found in manuscript in my father's library.
He was a warm, and vibrant person, who had an immense amount of musical knowledge to share.
We have been in touch off and on, and I was shocked to see his obituary in the last Philadelphia Orchestra Retirees and Friends...

Toni,Bonnie,Chris and David,
I was a student of Wayne's at NEC. We will all miss him so very much. He was a gracious and gentle man and a wonderful teacher. My husband and I were so pleased to have him visit us several times and loved his stories and sense of humor. What a gorgeous sound he had and of course an incredible technique. No one played Bach like he could. He loved you all very much and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as I have since knowing of his illness.
With...

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Rapier numerous times over the years and will sadly miss him. He represented a link to our collective past - a generation of substantive oboists traced directly back to the birth of American oboism. He shared his deep intensity and wisdom with me numerous times and for that I am profoundly grateful. I'll miss you sir.

Wayne was such a remarkable man. Thanks to his vision and thougtfulness he gave the musical world a chance to personally be instructed be Tabuteau be means of his recorded lessons. In turn through tremendous effort - he put together the de Lancie Masterclasses in France. He was a man that gave and gave again oh so generously and we are all the better for it. We are going to miss him a lot.

I only met Mr. Rapier a few months ago at the home of his sister in law, Mary Rapier and her daughter, Mary Julian Rapier. I found him to be quite a remarkable man. I only wish I could have heard more of his stories about great orchestra conductors.

To Toni and the family:

Wayne gave oboists many wonderful gifts beyond the inspiration of his own playing: the legacy of his teacher Marcel Tabuteau's taped lessons; the means provided so many of discovering of his teacher's world in the south of France; the treasure of all those recordings from Boston Records. I will always remember gratefully his, and your, welcome to my wife and me in the spring of 1989. We send our sympathy and best wishes to all of you at this time of loss.

Although I didn't know Wayne personally, he was an inspiration and an example for me from my formative years to the present. My sincere condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed.

Thanks to Wayne I've enjoyed many musical experiences which otherwise would not have been possible. I will always remember him with love and gratitude.

I am saddened to hear of Mr. Rapier's passing.

A charming and gentle man, many wonderful stories, a superb musician. He was kind enough to put me in touch with Stanley Hollingsworth before he, also, passed away and we spoke many times on the phone regarding his pieces for oboe.

My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends.

Chris