Double Bass How to lead a sectional for Beethoven 6?

[etillberg]

I kind of fell into the principal bass position in a local community orchestra (the actual principal bassist is out this semester) and I have to lead a sectional on Beethoven 6 this coming Sunday. I've never led a section before and never led a sectional, either. Anybody have tips of things they like to do in sectional? I've attended many but, to be honest, I don't really remember what I liked or disliked most. Any ideas of things to avoid?

So far I'm thinking of warming up with an F scale and then just running through the passages that I've identified as tricky (skipping the 2nd movement because it seems easy/not much to work on--is this a mistake?) Bowings are 90% decided already so I'd focus on helping out with fingerings, playing together more slowly with a metronome, helping the others "fake it" better during the Storm movement, keeping our F octaves in tune, etc.

Any great exercises or approaches that I'm missing?

 

[Bruce Calin]

When my community orch has a sectional I will start off with a scale in the key of most of the passages I want to work on. In a community situation it helps to keep in mind the abilities and commitment of the various players. You can't expect them to play what they can't play. We'll go over as much as there's time for, concentrating on rhythm and playing together. One thing I always make a point of working on in any case is playing in tune as much as possible in the lower register, especially on the E string. These notes are often hard to hear and play clearly in the section, but are some of our most important in terms of the ensemble. It's also important IMO to at least touch on all of the most musically important (not always the most technically difficult) passages so that people have an idea of what to work on most, given the time and energy they have to practice. Being patient and encouraging are also very necessary.

 

[LouisF]

IMO (as principal in a couple of orchestras): target the specific problematic/troublesome measures; work them SLOWLY: make sure everybody gets the right mechanics (bowing; fingering; phrasing etc); and keep a sense of humor. You don't have to get it "right" in the sectional; just share the tools that will get it right in performance. If your community section is at all like mine, you may also spend time on giving some of the weaker players helpful cheats (playing first/third 8ths instead all 16th notes in fast passages) Nobody wants to look bad and everyone wants the orchestra to sound good. Again, humor and patience help a lot.

 

[Paps]

For "Storm" movement, it might be an idea to play alternate notes, 8th notes rather than everyone playing 16th notes.
ie outside desk playing 1st and 3rd, inside desk playing 2nd and 4th notes. That way you'll get a lot more volume.
When we tried as written it was technically too difficult and we weren't scaring anyone!

 

[LouisF]

Take your time. The more familiar the section is with the piece (videos, recordings) the more they'll know HOW it's supposed to sound. IMO the "effects" in this movement are as essential as technical accuracy. Agree on not only bowings but fingerings - so everyone is going to and from the same place at the same time. When we did the Shostakovich 5 recently, we invited a member of the LA Phil to do an hour sectional with us (and we all chipped in and gave him $100). We got more out of that than anything else.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/beethoven-6th-help.201703/

The four minute free intro here is very helpful:

How to Play the Unplayable — Discover Double Bass

An interview with Joseph Conyers in which he reveals his tips for playing seemingly impossible orchestral parts, such as the storm in Beethoven 6.

discoverdoublebass.com