Double Bass DB Point of view ...

[Andy Mopley]

A few techniques on display!!

Regards to all

 

[Papageno]

The bow grip of the player with the black t-shirt is quite unusual among classical bassists.

 

[SAlcott]

I've seen that in some early music groups that use "authentic" bows. He and the player to his right are both using big bows.

 

[Papageno]

I've seen that in some early music groups that use "authentic" bows. He and the player to his right are both using big bows.

Thanks for pointing this out. That's interesting indeed. But these 2 players have quite different bow grips.

 

[Leif Dering]

I've seen that in some early music groups that use "authentic" bows. He and the player to his right are both using big bows.

I think I remember seeing this video and seeing something about the basses (or maybe orchestra) using baroque/period equipment, but I'm not 100% sure. It would explain the overhand bow grips.

 

[David Potts]

I played this Mendelssohn 4th Symphony yesterday afternoon - the only bass in 32 players, and it nearly killed me ! The programme was long and this symphony was last. The second movement is an endurance test and I changed my French bow hold to German otherwise my R deltoid muscles (shoulder) would seize up and cause me to make stops and rest for a few notes.

The guy in the black T shirt is using the early music bow hold with a normal bow stick. The others seem to be more "standard". In the first lighter off-string staccato notes his bow hold would be OK near the balance point of the stick but would be wanting in the slurred passages that followed and very loud passages. He chooses to waste about 6" of hair but string crossings can be done easily just using the wrist and fingers and the hold is very comfortable for light playing. I'm a slogger and won't use this approach but know it is a choice if context asks for it, just like changing between overhand and underhand grips.