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Double Bass Beethoven #3, 1st mvt, without an extension

Simandl Fan

Simandl Fan

Jul 15, 2006
303
6
Wellesley, MASS
#1
If you don't have a C extension, or C string:

How do you play the 16 bars before L in the first movement?

Years ago, I would play the low Cs, Dbs, Ds, and Ebs up an octave, and the other notes as written, knowing that the cellos would provide the melody and we would provide the strength :)

Of course, that messes up the line. We are playing it now with the Boston Civic Symphony ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) and I think I will just transpose the whole passage up an octave, but no higher than the top line Ab, in order to preserve the line.

How would you handle this?
 
#5
I thought I would pop back in to answer this the way I used to handle it. I had a really nice bass and I hesitated to add that heavy extention or a fifth string - besides, I'm cheap. Many years ago, we were playing something that had some beautiful melodic lines that had low d's and eb's and had the 'ducks' on the two bottom strings. I simply tuned down to a D A D G. I wrote out two pages of exercises in that tuning, warmed up on that in practice and played the concerts. Loved it and easy to do! Next season, I was looking at some great parts that needed a low C, etc. So, I bought a low C string and went with CADG tuning, wrote out two more pages of exercises and actually got complimented by the conductor for the lines! Later, I need a CGDG tuning - 3 pages of warm-ups for that. If you think about the low D being the lower octave of your regular D and the low G being the lower octave of your upper G, its not as bad as it might sound. Hope this helps.
Tom Gale
ASODB.com
 
#6
TomGale said:
I thought I would pop back in to answer this the way I used to handle it. I had a really nice bass and I hesitated to add that heavy extention or a fifth string - besides, I'm cheap. Many years ago, we were playing something that had some beautiful melodic lines that had low d's and eb's and had the 'ducks' on the two bottom strings. I simply tuned down to a D A D G. I wrote out two pages of exercises in that tuning, warmed up on that in practice and played the concerts. Loved it and easy to do! Next season, I was looking at some great parts that needed a low C, etc. So, I bought a low C string and went with CADG tuning, wrote out two more pages of exercises and actually got complimented by the conductor for the lines! Later, I need a CGDG tuning - 3 pages of warm-ups for that. If you think about the low D being the lower octave of your regular D and the low G being the lower octave of your upper G, its not as bad as it might sound. Hope this helps.
Tom Gale
ASODB.com
Click to expand...

THEN...you could tune CGDA and problems solved forever. :)
 
#10
neilG said:
No, it's not! The conductor will most likely not even have noticed the bottom octave missing and will want it when you point it out. Then you'll HAVE to find a way to play it. Shhh! :)
Click to expand...

I'm sure different conductors want different things. And a good conductor would notice this in the score. You also shouldn't be afraid to ask him a question.
 

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