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Double Bass Does thrashing around while you play do any good?

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#23
Adam Furay said:
that looks beyond ridiculous. Say whatever you want about expression, timing, phrasing etc. It is distracting and he would be a greater asset to this group if he would sit down and just play without the immature "show" he is putting on. If you can't play well sitting still like a person with some dignity and sense, you probably can't play very well at all.
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He almost looks like he's enjoying himself! How vulgar. Music is meant to be observed, not enjoyed.
 
#24
Adam Furay said:
that looks beyond ridiculous. Say whatever you want about expression, timing, phrasing etc. It is distracting and he would be a greater asset to this group if he would sit down and just play without the immature "show" he is putting on. If you can't play well sitting still like a person with some dignity and sense, you probably can't play very well at all.
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I think that Mr. Tuneh could do as you asked, if he wanted to. the thing is, he doesn't want to, and he's the guy who's got the gig. On the contrary to what you have said, It seems like Mr. Tuneh DOES play very well from the various clips I've heard around youtube. He certainly seems to make a living off of his playing.

So he moves around. Bodies move around, it's what they're designed to do. could he stand still? sure. Does he have to? absolutely not. The bottom lines are 1.) who cares? 2.) does the person who cares prevent you from making a living? if not, then see question one.

I don't mean to sound too crass but I feel like you are attempting to enforce your view as the singular and only correct view, which I feel is wrong. You find it distracting to se him move so much, and that's fine, but it doesn't make his way wrong. Another group that you may have heard of who move around a lot is the St Lawrence String Quartet. They are also successful. Should they stop moving around so much? well, seems like whatever they're doing is paying the bills so I don't think they'd see a reason to change.

respectfully yours,

Eerbrev
 
#25
Well that put the cat amongst the pidgeons!

I have to say that I am guilty of excessive thrashing around on stage but only in circus style music theatre acts like this one: jump to 0:40 to see me competing with Oscar D'Leon for the most outrageous dancing-playing.
KALANTZO showreel - YouTube

Two things about this whole affair. 1. I certainly couldn't play Bottesini or a Bach cello suite doing this.... and
2. Mr Tuneh is playing a Mozart divertimento!! C'mon guys, I bob back and forth in the loud bits of Bruckner and Strauss too but Mozart doesn't need this and I really doubt if it adds anything substantial to the performance except that it renders it a comic spectacle.

Perhaps Mr. Tuneh trying to slim down.... I'm just wondering.... That's what I was doing!
FC
 
#28
AClark said:
Let's put this into perspective. Who is the guy in the video putting on a GREAT performance, and who are the guys on the Internet criticizing him.

How often do you see Joshua bell (even in an orchestral setting) sitting Still?
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When he's playing bass in a Mozart Divertimento? Perhaps.

I'm not criticising his playing... More they distracting and unecessary moving around while playing in a group which obviously doesn't need to move around that much to play just as well as he does. I see it as a waste of energy which he could be putting into his playing. He does actually get out of sync a couple of times but this is a notorious piece for just pounding out the bass line without listening to the violins. If he stopped dancing and started listening he'd do much better - IMHO.
 
#29
fergus currie said:
When he's playing bass in a Mozart Divertimento? Perhaps.

I'm not criticising his playing... More they distracting and unecessary moving around while playing in a group which obviously doesn't need to move around that much to play just as well as he does. I see it as a waste of energy which he could be putting into his playing. He does actually get out of sync a couple of times but this is a notorious piece for just pounding out the bass line without listening to the violins. If he stopped dancing and started listening he'd do much better - IMHO.
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I think it's mostly for show...as a musician who doesn't really get into classical music, I see him as playing into the stereotypical stage presence of a classical musician...he is making it look like he is "really getting into it". I used to have a really bad strap for my electric bass in college and at some shows with the rock band the strap would come off mid song and in order to keep playing I had to get down on my knees and play the bass almost upright style...I was really embarrassed, but talking to people in the audience, they thought I was striking some "sweet poses" and they loved it haha
 
#32
Now, it really depends on what you mean on "THRASHING AROUND". If you mean like jumping around at the drop of a song and banging your head during the heavy parts, then yes, it gets the crowd more excited and into the song. But, if you mean like spinning yourself around and breaking your instruments, and kicking over amps, and acting like you are on crack, then no. However, it really DOES depend on the 1. type of music, 2. size of stage, and 3. type of audiance. If you are on a big stage with alot of people that are listening to your really heavy music, then more active is better, but again, don't get carried away. (haha) People will get into the music if they see that the musicians are ALSO into it. So if there is a part where the music drops into a heavy bridge of something like that where it gets more intense, then take a high jump and slam your feet when it starts, and if there is a lot of rythem in the song, feel free to bang your head or give it a little dance. Just have fun with it and more than anything, let the music tell you when to do what and WHEN/HOW to thrash around.

Rock on!!!!
4 STRINGS 4 LIFE!!!!!:bassist:
 
#34
Oh what fun it is to read this today. I watched the video last night with my wife sitting next to me, I didn´t have the heart to annoy her by turning the sound up...

To get it out of the way I commend Tuneh on having the gumption to actually go after what he wants in life albeit at the expense of what I consider good taste and good bass playing.
He is a constuctive fellow with a plan.
this is why youtube is great as well as annoying. Freedom of expression to a degree.

I will never purchase a ticket to any of his concerts nor download anything he has recorded. Yes I have listened to his work on youtube. I find it interesting only in that I can´t imagine how anyone gets away with this style. I really think he plays poorly. The movement just makes it a little more corny. He feels music, yes I get it. Can we move on?

I give him 4 more years before he moves over to conducting. More money and easier to fool people.
 
#35
I'm a visiter from the Bass Guitar forum but I can attest it feels pretty good. Does that count for anything?

In all seriousness though, I most likely just makes you more prone to miss notes
 
#37
threshar said:
I was disappointed.

I came to this thread with the hope of seeing someone bounce around the stage ala steve harris with a DB and I just got a guy swaying a bit while playin.g
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I cannot disappoint you sir....so...


I have to say that I am guilty of excessive thrashing around on stage but only in circus style music theatre acts like this one: jump to 0:40 to see me competing with Oscar D'Leon for the most outrageous dancing-playing.
KALANTZO showreel - YouTube
 
#39
actually seems pretty normal in this ensemble - Beethoven Symphonie 5 en 7 Les Dissonances David Grimal - YouTube
i suspect that visual communication is a major part of what holds a group like this together without a conductor. i already move a lot when performing, but in a setting like les dissonances, i could get used to doing a lot more.

still, anything Guy Tuneh does would never look this ridiculous - Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens - cww.at - YouTube

i agree, it looks out of place. would i ask Mr. Tuneh to play in my ensemble anyways? you bet.
 
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