Channel 4 UK: How Music Works: Bass

[dead air]

Hey, just a heads up to let you all know that if you've being following the "How Music Works with Howard Goodall" on Channel 4 in the UK, the last part of the series is on this Saturday 9th Dec 2006 (8:25pm I believe) and focuses on how important bass is to music composition. It's well worth checking out as the series so far has shown some some great insights into how certain pieces of music are composed.

Enjoy!

"Music is usually broken down into melody, rhythm and harmony. But what about the very lowest notes in music, that can have an impact on all three? In this film Howard looks at the abiding fascination musicians and composers have had with the bass.

For half a millennium instrument makers have been trying to construct instruments of all shapes and sizes capable of thudding, sonorous low notes. Only with the arrival of the synthesizer did they succeed in producing a rival to the mighty organ. With disco, dance, and drum 'n' bass, the bass has arrived centre stage.

But bass notes have another, crucial role. Far from just plodding away in the background, bass lines can have a critical effect on the whole structure of a piece of music, helping to drive the chord progressions.

Howard looks at the dark horse of the musical family, and its use in the hands of such diverse musical talents as Johann (and Richard) Strauss, John Philip Sousa, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Albinoni, Bach and Motown's resident bass maestro, James Jamerson."

http://www.channel4.com/culture/micr...orks/bass.html