Double Bass double bass recorded audition Eccles/Koussevitzky

[timothyhses]

Hello all, this is my very first post.

I am a high school senior, and I am currently knee deep in the mess that is college application.

However, due to the genius invention of the music supplement, ironically, I've been able to pick up where I left off on the double bass. I started learning the double bass during middle school, where the conductor practically tricked me into picking the double bass because the orchestra needed one.

I once hoped to go to a music school, but now I just want to go to a university that has a good orchestra program, and continue to take lessons and go to music camps. Anyway, that's my plan for now.

These are my recorded double bass auditions, and please provide any feedback or criticism. I just thought since I put in on the internet, why not go one step further.

1.Eccles 4th movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trkFUWgkr2k&feature=plcp

2. Koussevitzky 1st movement (MAJOR intonation issues)

 

[AClark]

In the second Cadenza in koussevitzky, I felt that the tempo change going up was a little sudden.

Id also Work on your vibrato. It seems a little tight. Kous isn't really the best piece of music ever written, so you'll have to milk it for all it's worth.

 

[bml6]

I watched your videos and want to let you know I am the Double Bass Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. If you are interested in applying here I can give you a lot more info if you write to me directly at [email protected].

We can discuss your options.

Barry Lieberman

 

[Ryanpet42]

Eccles was excellent, but with Koussevitsky I would suggest that on the opening two statements before the alla breve to treat those as a cadenza. You are literally the only thing playing if that was done with an orchestra, so take your time on the top, slowly speed up until you get to the low B, hold onto the B, then accelerate going up, and make sure to make the last two notes a half note and a quarter note. Second cadenza, same thing. At the beginning, take as much time as you need, speed up a little, slow down a LOT when the rit. appears, and hold onto the note before the alla breve just a little bit longer than you want, then play the E in the alla breve. I am working on this piece right now, and there are two very important things that my teacher told me that I will pass on. Use a very relaxed (and a lot of) vibrato on anything longer than a quarter note, and practice slowly. I started at quarter = 40 and then worked my way up, first with fingerings, then intonation, and then making it musical. If you can play a section perfectly several times at one tempo, ratchet up the tempo by either four or six (but keeping intervals consistent) and do it all over again. It is a grueling ritual, but a very successful one

With love,
Ryan