Repertoire Help.

[Basso03]

Hello everyone,

I recently performed the capuzzi concerto with Marc Morton's cadenza. My teacher said that we can continue with the capuzzi or we can do a new piece. I'm getting kind of tired of the capuzzi right now. What would be a good piece to start working on? I've played the eccles and the marcello sonatas in g minor and g major. I would ask my teacher but she's at an audition this week so i have no way to get a hold of her.

Any help is appreciated.

[Cory Palmer]

The Dragonetti Concerto is a good one to do after Capuzzi. It's quite a bit harder though. The Bourrees from the 3rd Bach cello suite are good too.

[sibass89]

I would stay away from Bach. Bach is (IMO and many others) the hardest music on bass.

Dragonetti would be a good choice but also stick with those Baroque sonatas. Play the Vivaldi and Scarlatti Sonatas and even Handel.

[Justin K-ski]

I agree. A lot of people don't realize the diffuclty of Bach's music. Even movements that may appear easy such as the 3rd Bourees are extremely challanging. Dragonetti might be ok, but may also be too difficult. A Vivaldi Sonata would be the perfect bridge between Capuzzi and Dragonetti.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by sibass89

I would stay away from Bach. Bach is (IMO and many others) the hardest music on bass.

Maybe so but for me working on the cellos suites has been so enjoyable. I would recommend it. Quite a few of my high school students have successfully taken on the Bourrees.

[Basso03]

Which Vivaldi sonatas? I forgot to mention I've played the 1st and 2nd mvnt of the one in A minor.

I was thinking of the Dragonetti, but honestly I don't think I'm ready for it just yet.

Thanks everyone.

[mcnaire2004]

What about the Vivaldi Concerto? I have only seen the first page but it didn't look to bad.

[Basso03]

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

What about the Vivaldi Concerto? I have only seen the first page but it didn't look to bad.

The violin concerto in A minor? Or the one on liben.com in F major?

[sibass89]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Maybe so but for me working on the cellos suites has been so enjoyable. I would recommend it. Quite a few of my high school students have successfully taken on the Bourrees.

Enjoyable yes, but also incredibly difficult. And one cannot learn technique that way. Technique is the most important thing for a young player or developing player, and a bach suite is most definately NOT a good choice for somebody who just finished Capuzzi. I didn't start Bach until this year.

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by Basso03

The violin concerto in A minor? Or the one on liben.com in F major?

The one in F from liben. On libens site they'll show you the first page.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by sibass89

Enjoyable yes, but also incredibly difficult. And one cannot learn technique that way. Technique is the most important thing for a young player or developing player, and a bach suite is most definately NOT a good choice for somebody who just finished Capuzzi. I didn't start Bach until this year.

The Bourrees are not that difficult for someone with a solid technical foundation. I've had students go from Capuzzi to Bourrees with no problem. The technical difficulties wiil work themselves out if one is enjoying the learning process. We obviously haven't heard this player to adequately evaluate their abilities but based on the pieces that they say they have worked on it doesn't sound like they will have trouble taking the Bourrees on. I also assume that we're talking about playing them in G major and not the original key at pitch.

[sibass89]

Lets agree to disagree. Bach in my opinion is the hardest music on the bass, whether transposed or not. Being able to get through a piece is not be bale to play a piece and unfortunately thats what many young kids do out there and it is far from impressive.

[Basso03]

Hey, thanks again everyone!

Although I really enjoy the cello suites I don't feel like I should be playing them transposed or not.

Would Apres un reve be a good choice?

Thank you.

[Peter Ferretti]

I did Apres un reve right after Capuzzi, and I'm not sure I recommend it. I think that there are some Lyrical issues that need to be addressed in the Faure, and I don't think that you would be quite ready for that piece yet.

That being said, I have not heard you, I have no Idea what your maturity level is, I have no idea how you play, how good your technique is, nor do I have any idea how well you interpret music.

Bottom line, If you are able to play lyrical music very well, then go for Apres un reve. If not, then I think you should tackle some of the Vivaldi Sonatas and work on your ability to interpret music, and build up your technique.

[PsionAxis]

Id like to comment on the little Bach Suite discussion we have going here.

I started off as an electric bassist only, and over the years a couple etudes I have done have been some of the Bach cello suites. Because of the sheer tuning difference, the suites are kind of difficult.

I also play upright bass and I can say that due to the sheer physical size difference between a whole step on an electric bass and that on a acoustic bass, the cello suites would be pretty difficult. Any student who could do it effectively would have a great grasp of technique and how to navigate the acoustic bass effectively. As for etudes for beginning students, I definately would not recommend it on acoustic bass.

Electric, its a little more plausible due to the fret distance and the fact that you can make chord formations out of alot of Bach's note patterns (reffering to prelude to suite Number One).

As far as some of the bourees from Suite III and various Gigues and other excerpts from that and Suite VI that I know, playing it on acoustic bass wouldnt be impossible, but would definately be an endeavor to undertake if a reasonably advanced player was attempting to work on sheer dexterity.

Cool discussion!

[Bottesini]

I would say do a vivaldi sonata and then move on to the dragonetti. The dragonetti's pretty much all scales and isn't incredibly melodic, but it is a considerable jump from the capuzzi (in the fact that you actually have to use thumb position).

[Basso03]

Originally Posted by Bottesini

I would say do a vivaldi sonata and then move on to the dragonetti. The dragonetti's pretty much all scales and isn't incredibly melodic, but it is a considerable jump from the capuzzi (in the fact that you actually have to use thumb position).

I'm fine with playing in thumb position, but I've never done any of the off the fingerboard harmonics.

[sibass89]

Originally Posted by PsionAxis

Id like to comment on the little Bach Suite discussion we have going here.

I started off as an electric bassist only, and over the years a couple etudes I have done have been some of the Bach cello suites. Because of the sheer tuning difference, the suites are kind of difficult.

I also play upright bass and I can say that due to the sheer physical size difference between a whole step on an electric bass and that on a acoustic bass, the cello suites would be pretty difficult. Any student who could do it effectively would have a great grasp of technique and how to navigate the acoustic bass effectively. As for etudes for beginning students, I definately would not recommend it on acoustic bass.

Electric, its a little more plausible due to the fret distance and the fact that you can make chord formations out of alot of Bach's note patterns (reffering to prelude to suite Number One).

As far as some of the bourees from Suite III and various Gigues and other excerpts from that and Suite VI that I know, playing it on acoustic bass wouldnt be impossible, but would definately be an endeavor to undertake if a reasonably advanced player was attempting to work on sheer dexterity.

Cool discussion!

The Bach suites are very from impossible, but you need to be a very mature and solid player before tackling them.

If they were not needed for so many auditions, I would not be working on, but still I will spend about 7 months on just the Bourees from the 3rd suite, before any auditions or performances.

As far as etudes go. NEVER STOP playing etudes. Start as soon as you start playing bass and keeping going until you die. Etudes are key to working on technique. It allows young players with not as much of an attention span to work on technique in a more musical way.

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by sibass89

The Bach suites are very from impossible, but you need to be a very mature and solid player before tackling them.

If they were not needed for so many auditions, I would not be working on, but still I will spend about 7 months on just the Bourees from the 3rd suite, before any auditions or performances.

As far as etudes go. NEVER STOP playing etudes. Start as soon as you start playing bass and keeping going until you die. Etudes are key to working on technique. It allows young players with not as much of an attention span to work on technique in a more musical way.

I agree. For example I am ordering the Kreutzer etudes, and the 6 vivaldi sonatas. Not for something to play but just to work on solid tecnique.

I've went back on things and I'm playing everything super slow to try and build a solid foundation.

[chaurett]

Let me put in one more vote for a Baroque sonata. It hard to suggest a piece without hearing you play but I usually hold off on Bach with my high school students unless they absolutely need it for an audition. It's just too hard to play well. The Bourees are very awkward and just getting through it is not enough. I hear way too many bassist just fighting their way through music that is much to hard for them. What's the hurry? It's much more important at you level to learn how to learn and interpert music well. (that's a toung twister...)

I have seen students be very successful with the Koussevitsky "Valse Miniature" after the Capuzzi. It's much more idiomatic. Another decent piece is the Keyper "Romance and Rondo".