Double Bass are 5 string basses required in german orchestras?

[deepseabass]

I had heard somewhere that german orchestras use 5 string basses, but I never found out if it was required.

does anybody know?

thanks.

 

[User4843936]

From what I understand, some of the bigger orchestras will own such instruments that players are then at liberty to use while working with the orchestra. I don't know if personally owning a five string bass is ever actually all that much of a necessity in Germany. One of the guys in our section also works in Cologne with an orchestra there occasionally. He's mentioned that they essentially have a room somewhere in the orchestra building full of about 20 or so instruments, some presumably five string, which are all owned by the orchestra. Apparently back in the day they'd send a few of the members off to Italy or wherever with a certain amount of cash, and they'd bring back a few basses to add to the collection.... I'm paraphrasing somewhat but I think you get the idea.

 

[PaulCannon]

The policy completely depends on the orchestra. Many orchestras own their own instruments, others won't mind at all if you use a four-string. Some will require that you own a five-string, but generally this will be made explicit on the audition announcement.

What I'd like to know is if they would accept a bass with a C or B extension instead. Extensions are extremely rare in Germany, but from a practical standpoint I'm not sure how they could justify excluding them.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

What I'd like to know is if they would accept a bass with a C or B extension instead. Extensions are extremely rare in Germany, but from a practical standpoint I'm not sure how they could justify excluding them.

I would think they could exclude them just like they exclude French bow players, and probably would.

- Steve

 

[LowA]

Even in the famous orchestras from Berlin, Munich or Vienna (Austria) normally half of the bass section plays four stringers, the other half five stringers. Only for special works like Wagner they all play five stringers.

It is true: Extensions are quiet rare in Germany but within the last ten years you can see them more and more often in the orchestras, absolutely no problem. (What you still never see is an adjustable brige.)

For me as an amateur player my five stringer has a big advantage: Very few amateurs play five stringers so nearly every conductor tells me just while looking at my bass: "Yes you can play with us"...