Trying to build a repertoire

Masters2010 · #1 07-31-2006, 06:52 PM

Though I've been playing for 5 years, I haven't really even started to build a repertoire. Going to walnut hill next year, I feel like I'm going to need to have a larger foundation and be able to play the standard pieces. For my audition at WH, I played capuzzi, vivaldi, and dragonetti, but I'm not really sure what else I should start to work on. Right now I just started to look at the bottessini elegy, but I'm not so sure if that is the right thing for me to be playing right now.

mcnaire2004 · #2 07-31-2006, 07:41 PM

If you played that than maybe the Koussevitzky, Bottesini No. 2, and maybe just add some standerd etudes.

John453 · #3 07-31-2006, 07:46 PM

Eccles Sonata in G Minor.

Beto · #4 08-01-2006, 11:22 AM

I think bassist in general go to fast with repertoire. What I have seen by now, it's that people goes like this:
Eccles--->Dragonetti--->Koussevitzky--->Bottesini.
And so, normally they think that they have played all the repertoire. There's so much more repertoire, and so little time!
We have a lot of clasical period concertos besides Dragonneti (Capuzzi, Pichel, Cimador, Vanhal, Dittersdorf). And I think that its a good start for bottesini to begin by playing some of the "little" and "easy" pieces like the three elegy's. Theres also good baroque repertoire besides (Marcello sonatas, vivaldi, couperin pieces in concert, Teleman sonatas, bach sonatas, handel).
It's only my opinion...

kontrabass · #5 08-02-2006, 02:45 PM

Once you get Koussevitzky "out of the way" (it is a neat piece and a requirement), I would suggest the Bach Cello Suites. I warm up everyday with whichever I seem to be working on, though very, very slowly. They help with technique, ear training, and are a good piece to have.

I find that many people are impressed if you play a lesser known concerto or work, as well. More modern pieces are probably the place to look. Try something like the Larsson concertino (Do a search of Edicson Ruiz on talkbass, there is an excellent taped performance of him playing the piece), a shorter cello piece like Bruch's Kol Nidre or Rachmaninoff's Vocalise or Prayer (I forget the composer), or a longer Sonata like the Arpeggione Sonata by Schubert or the Hindemith Sonata.

As I look back at my suggestions, most seem to have made their way into the standard repetoire.

Alex

chaurett · #6 08-02-2006, 07:20 PM

Hey Masters2010. You live right down the street from me.

Some options that generally work well for someone of your age/assumed playing level (considering you are going to walnut hill) are Dittersdorf or Cimador Concerto, Eccles Sonata, Bourees or Gigue from the 3rd Bach suite, Elegy or similar short work by Bottessini, orchestral excerpts! for sure. If you are looking for something a little more challenging then go for Koussevitsky or Vanhal Concerto, Larsson Concertino, Misek sonatas, Bach gamba sonatas... I would stay away from Bottessini Concertos, Hindimith Sonata, and the Arpeggione Sonata for now. I agree with the post above that most students try to move to literature that is too advanced too quickly. There's plenty of time. You need to get used to playing things well, not just making it through hard rep. It will be worth it in the long run.

All three of the teachers at Walnut Hill are great and they will point you in the right direction. I studied with Larry Wolfe who is on the faculty there I believe.

Beto · #7 08-03-2006, 12:10 AM

The Prayer is from "Jewish Life", by Ernest Bloch

Beto · #8 08-03-2006, 12:13 AM

Another Question: Is Waltnut Hill School, like a music academy or it is a music university or what?

kontrabass · #9 08-03-2006, 12:24 AM

Walnut Hill is a boarding school for high school students, with a focus towards the arts (dance, music, writing, drawing, etc). It has all of Boston and her music scene in its backyard.

It is one of the best of its kind..very much on par with Interlochen Academy and Idyllwild.

EFischer1 · #10 08-03-2006, 07:05 AM

Call me crazy, but I think that High School kids are pushed too much to learn too much hard rep too fast. Having moved on to conservatory, I find that relearning the pieces I learned in high school is much harder than learning new pieces now. I suppose the best advice is to practice carefully, because these are pieces you will play for the rest of your life.