Double Bass Identifying Fortier's bass

[basswraith]

http://www.worldofbasses.de/Instrumente_01/Pillement_Pere_1790/Pillement.html

\The outline is similar but the F holes are wider in this pic. Look closely at the corners of the upper bouts.
I think they are close

 

[Square Bear]

yeah, it's not the same one as in the pic - the f holes are lower on claudia's (relative to the corner of the lower bout) and the shoulders appear more square whereas in the pic of fortier they're definitely rounder. good research though! interesting thread.

 

[BCAlbin]

http://www.utahsymphony.org/about_musicians.php?cat=4

Cladia Norton has it now.

Not that our "Mystery Bass" is either, but these are two different basses by different luthiers:

Cladia Norton
She is privileged to own a Joannes Baptista Gabrielli string bass from 1787. The instrument was previously owned by Anselm Fortier, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic, and Audrey Bush, principal bass Utah Symphony.

Carolyn White
Her instrument was made by Giovanni Gabrielli, ca. 1750. Before Ms. White, it was played by the former SLSO Principal Double Bass, Henry Loew. When Arturo Toscanini was Music Director of the New York Philharmonic he selected the instrument especially for his Principal Double Bass, Anselm Fortier, who was Henry Loew’s teacher.

All I can say is Fortier must of had a slew of Gabriellis!...

-BCA

 

[Dr_Atomic]

He had a number of basses, so it's possible that more than one was a Gabrielli.

 

[alavakian]

Mention of Anselme Fortier brings back many memories. I studied with Fortier. Fred Zimmerman was my main teacher, but we were required to learn French bow. We lived in the same neighborhood in Queens. He would take long walks with his Mrs. and was the sweetest person when you met him on the street. But he was a tyrant during lessons. He'd scare the sh*** out of me. I confided in Zimmerman about him being so intimidating, as did some of the other students. Zimmerman attitude was to live with it, learn all you can, it will all pass.

 

[Pat Klobas]

Hey bassists,
Found this photo online from LIFE magazine.
It is Anselme Fortier - the old principal of the NY Philharmonic.
Anyone know what kind of bass he played?

I have a bass once owned by Fortier, not this one of course. It is a 1861 Pelizon, northern Italian. Duane Rosengard has research on this going back to early 20th century. John Patitucci had a French bass also owned by Fortier with a collection of notes on the basses Fortier owned. I know, an old post but I just joined. Enjoyed your conversation. Hi Paul Warburton!

 

[Calvin Marks]

Mention of Anselme Fortier brings back many memories. I studied with Fortier. Fred Zimmerman was my main teacher, but we were required to learn French bow. We lived in the same neighborhood in Queens. He would take long walks with his Mrs. and was the sweetest person when you met him on the street. But he was a tyrant during lessons. He'd scare the sh*** out of me. I confided in Zimmerman about him being so intimidating, as did some of the other students. Zimmerman attitude was to live with it, learn all you can, it will all pass.

That's hilarious.