Double Bass Brahms 2!

[b1644]

Help Wanted:

There are several places in this piece where there are long phrases indicated... is it OK to break up the bowings in the middle of these and how would you do so? I'm thinking particularly of the tricky string-crossing stuff in the 8 bars at letter "L" (4th movement, bar 252).

Also, what would be the best fingering for that section? Right now, I'm getting along with this...

I realize I'm probably breaking a few "rules" with these weird fingerings but they seem to be the best I can come up with for the time being (I should mention that I can manage the use of my 3rd finger in these lower positions quite comfortably; my strings are Obligato's and their tension is quite low on my bass, but that's another story).

Any other general suggestions for this piece would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Martin

 

[jallenbass]

When I studied with Tim Pitts he changed the slurs a bitto make it flow better. The first slur is good. On the 2nd slur only connect the quarter notes. Begin the 3rd slur on the eigth notes and include the first quarter after them. The 4th slur starts n the last quarter of m. 256 (C#). The slur in m. 259 includes the 1st quarter note of m. 260.

You're fingering looks good except for m. 252. It's not going to be very smooth going from E on the A string to A on the G string. You can play that measure in first position and connect it very well.

 

[jdapodaca]

I played this in October. Bowing was as suggested by John.

I stayed mostly in first position aside from the C, C#, and D parts, if I remember right. Good Luck.

 

[neilG]

I think simple is sometimes best. I use the articulation as printed.
You can adapt your four finger technique, of course.

 

[Jeff Moote]

This thread is especially interesting to me since I will be performing it in March. I have my teacher's markings but don't have the part handy.

I'll probably revisit this thread with some thoughts when I start working on it next week. It looks like some of you have good suggestions for the phrasing.

 

[b1644]

When I studied with Tim Pitts he changed the slurs a bitto make it flow better. The first slur is good. On the 2nd slur only connect the quarter notes. Begin the 3rd slur on the eigth notes and include the first quarter after them. The 4th slur starts n the last quarter of m. 256 (C#). The slur in m. 259 includes the 1st quarter note of m. 260.

You're fingering looks good except for m. 252. It's not going to be very smooth going from E on the A string to A on the G string. You can play that measure in first position and connect it very well.

Oops! I wrote it out wrong... The first two notes of bar 253 (the second bar shown) go "4-1" on the D string. Same thing in bar 255. I've corrected the image.

- Martin