Double Bass Mahler 1.iii

[barbarbass]

My community orchestra is doing the Mahler 1st. The guy who is usually first-chair has stopped coming to rehearsals, so it's on me to figure this beginning out.

Would anyone be willing to share a bowing for the beginning of the third movement?

Or let me just ask this question: is it generally the consensus to to follow Mahler's slurs as bowing guides (that is, taking those slurred parts in one bow)? Seems like kind of a bitch to do it that way -- I always run out of bow, particularly for measures 7-8.

Help.

 

[bejoyous]

There is lots of discussion of this very thing in various threads. Do a search and you'll find lots.

Most folks start up bow and devide the slurs so there is 2 beats per bow.

There are numerous ways to finger the notes and much discussion on whether to go down the G-string for the High-A to the Low-A.

Probably the easiest way to play it in tune is as follows:
Except for the High-A to Lo-A part, play it all in thumb position with the thumb on the harmonic, first finger on E or A and second finger on F and Bb.
D, E, FED - D-string--thumb, 1, 2,1, thumb
F, G, A - D-string for the F, G-string for the G and A (thumb and 1)

High-A play the tuning A on the D-string, Low-A just press the A on the D-string down then play the D on the G-string or the D Harmonic.

 

[fergus currie]

one more piece of advice: Play it a lot louder than you think it should be played or no one will hear it!
FC

 

[barbarbass]

Excellent. Thanks for the help thus far guys. Exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[bejoyous]

Not sure if you've played this yet, but and even easier and more guaranteed in tune way to play the high-A low-A bit is to stay in thumb position.

Stretch your hand a bit to reach up with 3 to play the high-A harmonic on the D-string, then the low-A harmonic with the thumb (at the octave spot) on the A-string, then the D harmonic with the thumb also at the octave.