what techniques are in Gunther Schuller's double bass concerto playing?

Magnolia · #1 08-20-2009, 11:24 PM

Dear everyone,

Could you share the playing or special techniques of Gunther Schuller's double bass concerto playing, Edgar Meyer's Bass Concerto No. 1 and John Harbison double bass vio Concerto?

thank you very much for sharing!!

-M

neilG · #2 08-21-2009, 12:50 AM

I've only HEARD the Meyer and Harbison, but I have the Schuller in front of me right now. Lots of natural and false harmonics you'll never need again, double and triple stops in thumb positions, and some quasi-improvisation. Frankly, it's absurdly and IMO gratuitously difficult and I've never heard of anyone playing it. Is there a recording?

bassrome · #3 08-23-2009, 12:04 PM

I worked on this piece when I was preparing a senior recital back in the early '80s. It's a great piece but insanely difficult. The principal of the Boston Symphony, Ed Barker, did a CD with the Schuller plus the Vanhal. He did a fantastic job and said it was one of the hardest pieces he's ever played.

Cheers,
Jack Hill