Double Bass Capuzzi DB concerto (D key version!!)

[Andy Mopley]

Hi there

would someone be kind enough to see if my suggested fingering is correct or provide alternatives?
I am not sure if it is better to play the first few bars in the 1/2and first positions..I always find it easier to slur non open strings, but over to any of you for comment..

Thanks for reading!

 

[Herbie 80's]

Second G sharp in first bar is an open string..? I think not.

Honestly, the trick in this passage is to bring the metronome down to where you can play this COMFORTABLY. If you feel uncomfortable playing this part, you'll rush the whole concerto and the time won't be even. First, pick a time to do the sixteenths at, and STAY at that tempo. Honestly, I would finger it:

B(1)-D(0)-C#(4)-E(1)-D(0)-F#(4)-E(2)-G#(1)-F#(4)-A(1)-G#(4)-B(1)-A(4)-C#(2)-B(4)-D(1)

I think this is the most STABLE way of playing this, instead of going up and down the G string. It'll help keep it in tune, and at a stable tempo. If you go through my fingering, the hardest part is the slur onto the different string, and the jump from the A-G#, but other than that, it's very solid. That's what the Capuzzi needs to be is SOLID. That's what a beginner concerto is about.

REMEMBER what your sixteenths are! If you can only play this slow, you have to play everything else SLOWER. Don't RUSH!

 

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks much, Herbie, this is really helpful, particularly comments around 16ths.

 

[eerbrev]

Second G sharp in first bar is an open string..? I think not.

Honestly, the trick in this passage is to bring the metronome down to where you can play this COMFORTABLY. If you feel uncomfortable playing this part, you'll rush the whole concerto and the time won't be even. First, pick a time to do the sixteenths at, and STAY at that tempo. Honestly, I would finger it:

B(1)-D(0)-C#(4)-E(1)-D(0)-F#(4)-E(2)-G#(1)-F#(4)-A(1)-G#(4)-B(1)-A(4)-C#(2)-B(4)-D(1)

I think this is the most STABLE way of playing this, instead of going up and down the G string. It'll help keep it in tune, and at a stable tempo. If you go through my fingering, the hardest part is the slur onto the different string, and the jump from the A-G#, but other than that, it's very solid. That's what the Capuzzi needs to be is SOLID. That's what a beginner concerto is about.

REMEMBER what your sixteenths are! If you can only play this slow, you have to play everything else SLOWER. Don't RUSH!

This is a really sensible fingering. Much of the musicalty and phrasing will come through the bow in the passage, and the speed restricts much of the vibrato potential, so it's best to stick with this nice stable fingering and focus on the bow.

The only difference I might make to the above fingering if you don't like it is B(1)-D(4)-C#(4)-E(1) or B(1)-D(4)-C#(2)-E(1), but the original fingering that herbie gave you is not only more solid in general, but promotes a nice solid simandl hand (I don't play simandl, but I do understand its value).

eerbrev

 

[Herbie 80's]

Remember that if you encounter the same sequence (scale in thirds), to use the same fingerings so that you won't be confused, or change as little as possible.

I don't like the Capuzzi concerto much, but if you're doing A LOT of thumb position exercises (Petrachi, Simandl Book II but everything in TP), and learning some Bach, it's a great way to venture into the Vanhal concerto (after you finish Capuzzi, of course).

Eerbrev, those are some interesting fingerings. I'm not sure I would play them, but it's interesting to see such a different fingering from what I'd do.

 

[Andy Mopley]

One more question, if I may...This is the version I am studying
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is bar 179 written in C clef and where do you play the first d note, using thumb?? And why not just continue using bass clef ??

THANK YOU!!

 

[Co.]

The D directly after the C clef is the same D as the D before the C clef, so you are already in the position on the G-String.
You could play it with the same finger, you played the D before, so you shift after beat 1,
or you could shift to the D on beat one and use your first finger.
Of course you could also play the whole arpeggio before on the D-string, so you could play the first note after the C clef as the octave harmonic using your thumb, but I wouldn't do it. Going up that scale on the G string sounds much nicer to me.

 

[Herbie 80's]

What Co. said. I would play the D using the same finger - for consistency.

They switch to C / tenor clef to stop ledger lines from building up. It also helps because the concertos / sonatas after Capuzzi use tenor clef quite a bit.

 

[Andy Mopley]

Thank you Co. & Herbie, much appreciated...