UPDATED! Searching for Music (and recordings) for A-level performance.

Student_Kat · #1 03-08-2007, 04:15 AM

UPDATE: SEE BELOW.

Hi all. I was hoping that you may be able to help me.

I'm a student studying A level music and for our music performance we need to do a performance investigation as well as actually playing.

We need to play for 12-15 minutes. The piece(s) we play all have to be connected (ie, same composer). That's not it though, we have to have two DIFFERENT recordings of either the piece we play or something from the same period of time or same composer.

Following me so far? It's annoyingl complicated!

I was orginally going to play a Vivaldi cello sonata but the recordings would have been cello and the exam board informed me (after I emailed them) that I would get marks taken off because the recordings would not be my instrument.

So, here's the current plan:

I play some Bottesini and compare two different recordings of one of his concertos. It's the closest I'm going to get.

I am going to London tomorrow to try and find some Bottesini to play (I am around grade 7 standard but having to play something grade 5ish in order to learn it in time-April). And then I'll hunt down recordings. I have found this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOTTESINI-DOUB...QQcmdZViewItem

I know it all sounds like I've left this a bit late and I have but this is all because of an injury to my shoulder. I was going to play my flute but I had to stp playing so double bass suddenly became my solo instrument (bit of a shock to the system) when I've been an orchetsral player for nearly 8 years.

I'm looking for advice really, and anyone who might have recordings. I'm just a bit desperate! I don't have a teacher-I can't afford £40 an hour.

Thanks ever so much in adavnce. Please, anything would be useful.

Kat

jsbarber · #2 03-08-2007, 06:52 AM

You may be able to find a recording of that Vivaldi cello sonata performed on bass. There is a thread here on TB about Edgar Meyer performing Bach cello sonatas. (A lot of the discussion was about playing it at pitch, if I recall correctly.) My point being that many of the cello Sonatas have been played by bassists.

Jim

mcnaire2004 · #3 03-08-2007, 07:13 AM

You have to learn a concerto and compare two different recordings of it? Thats allot. I assume you don't have much time.

Well, if you are going to pick Bottesini there are a ton of recordings of his Concerto No. 2. But, if you have to learn something in a short amount of time you should look into his Concerto No. 1 in B minor (It's a lower chop version of the F# minor version). Or if you have to play more than one than Bottesini's Allegro di Concerto 'alla mendellsohn' isn't as bad physicaly as his concerto no. 2. It's difficulty comes through it's extensive melodic passages.

Bruce Lindfield · #4 03-08-2007, 07:18 AM

How about Amazon.co.uk

They have 12 recordings of Bottesini Bass music :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ni%20Bottesini

Bruce Lindfield · #5 03-08-2007, 07:20 AM

I have a nice recording of the Dittersdorf and Vanhal concertos for Double Bass by Ch-Chi Nwanoku!

And Amazon has several other recordings of the Dittersdorf listed..?

Student_Kat · #6 03-08-2007, 08:52 AM

I can learn something easier by Bottesini, a collection of little pieces. It depends what I find tomorrow. But I can compare recordings of a different piece by that composer. I am starting to learn number 1 but it'll take me a good while so not doing that for perfomance!

Bruce Lindfield · #7 03-08-2007, 08:57 AM

Well I was suggesting that Amazon would be a good source for recordings of Bottesini's Bass works...?

Student_Kat · #8 03-08-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Well I was suggesting that Amazon would be a good source for recordings of Bottesini's Bass works...?

Yup, found a couple. I've got one recording but because someone sent it to me years ago, I've no idea what version it is or who's playing.

mcnaire2004 · #9 03-08-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Student_Kat

Yup, found a couple. I've got one recording but because someone sent it to me years ago, I've no idea what version it is or who's playing.

I can tell you what version it is.

What piece is it?

If it is Bottesini No. 1 then the basses first note should be a E (F#). Same if it is Bottesini No. 2. If its No. 1 and it isn't a F# than its the B minor version.

Student_Kat · #10 03-08-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

I can tell you what version it is.

What piece is it?

If it is Bottesini No. 1 then the basses first note should be a E (F#). Same if it is Bottesini No. 2. If its No. 1 and it isn't a F# than its the B minor version.

It's Number2.

I opened it up on WMP and it says 'Edgar Meyer' in brackets so I'm assuming it's Meyer playing the solo bass.

I think I'm still going to have to find it on CD though as I need the album details and the coevers and whatnot.

mcnaire2004 · #11 03-08-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Student_Kat

It's Number2.

I opened it up on WMP and it says 'Edgar Meyer' in brackets so I'm assuming it's Meyer playing the solo bass.

I think I'm still going to have to find it on CD though as I need the album details and the coevers and whatnot.

Its in B minor. If it is Edgars than it is is own edition. You can find the album stuff out with a little search on www.ask.com or google

Student_Kat · #12 03-26-2007, 03:28 PM

Sorry I haven't replied until now.

I went to buy some music and opted for Dragonetti instead. I'm playing 3 walzes and a solo (possibly the one in D minor).

As my piece to compare recordings I've opted for his concerto in A major. I have one recording of Gary Karr doing it. I need to find another, any ideas?

Nothing that I can see on ebay at the moment and nothing on amazon.co.uk......

reedo35 · #13 03-26-2007, 07:03 PM

Thomas Lom's recording is a good one for comparison. You can get it here-
[/url http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...=43:85505\url]
If you want to see a bunch of students attempting it (some good, some not so) do a search for Dragonetti concerto on You Tube.