Double Bass My first chamber-music performance

[AGCurry]

Second and third movements of Rossini Sonata No. 3, at Missouri chamber-music camp.

A fairly easy piece, thank goodness. I enjoyed it!
The editors used the beginning of the piece for credits, but video does start eventually.

Critiques welcomed! I know I hit a couple of notes flat, and that I was a little late a couple of times. What else?

 

[Lee Moses]

Sounds good! I bet you had a blast--you even got to take the melody!

 

[AGCurry]

Sounds good! I bet you had a blast--you even got to take the melody!

Thanks, Lee. Yes, I did have a blast. Matt Pickart, the first violinist and coach, is the professor of violin and viola at Webster U., and he really helped us put it together.

That 16-bar solo is one I had trouble with the entire week. The 12-year-old Rossini wrote it as 16 bars of 16th notes. I rewrote it a couple of times in an attempt to make it playable by me, and I think my version is more musical - less mechanistic, better phrased. Although I played it without mistakes, I wish I could have articulated it better so that it stood out more.

For some reason, I'm perversely gratified that the cellist was more noticeably out of tune in her solo than I was. I didn't expect that.

 

[JRA]

I'm perversely gratified that the cellist was more noticeably out of tune in her solo than I was.

great work! and fun to see you play, too!

 

[John Chambliss]

Bravo….. Sounded very good throughout!!!

 

[David Potts]

Sadly, being 80yo, 5' 7" and overweight I am not graceful to watch but I am reminded about how much more we need to animate when I see our news readers and morning TV show hosts work so hard to be interesting to their audience. Anything I will say equally applies to me since I recently saw a video made a year ago of my playing in a chamber music concert !!

When you see the energy and body movements of the other members then copy and match them- animate - animate - animate! I looked like one of the Mt. Rushmore faces, cast in stone, with no energy and flourishes in R arm movements even though I was in tune, in time and in style. You could be more relaxed and move around more, especially with your shoulders and feet, as you watch and engage with the other players more as well as your part. Placing the bow on the strings and note starts could look more confident in the opening notes of the last movement but by 5.30 you were looking much more engaged, moving your body more freely and bow more crisply (but don't tap your foot?). Aren't we actors as well as musicians when on stage?

Thanks for posting the video and opening yourself up for comment, showing more courage than I have in my current state of practice. And I liked the musicality, tone and good intonation. Like John - bravo!

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Congratulations! You sound great! I hope to someday get to do something similar after my arco work improves.

 

[AGCurry]

When you see the energy and body movements of the other members then copy and match them- animate - animate - animate! I looked like one of the Mt. Rushmore faces, cast in stone, with no energy and flourishes in R arm movements even though I was in tune, in time and in style. You could be more relaxed and move around more, especially with your shoulders and feet, as you watch and engage with the other players more as well as your part. Placing the bow on the strings and note starts could look more confident in the opening notes of the last movement but by 5.30 you were looking much more engaged, moving your body more freely and bow more crisply (but don't tap your foot?). Aren't we actors as well as musicians when on stage?

David, thank you! My own critique from watching myself includes a) a bit of "flying finger" syndrome, and b) a tendency to bend my right elbow more than I should.

Some questions, though, because I'm not versed in chamber music (others are welcome to respond too):

1. I made a conscious decision beforehand to smile and try to be "loose" as possible, projecting confidence regardless of how much of it I felt. However, I try not to distract the audience visually from the people doing the featured things - in other words, be a side man. Should I reconsider the "side man" approach?

2. Is it always bad form to tap a foot? The last movement sounds like a dance piece to me, and it's hard not to dance a little with some part of my body.

 

[AGCurry]

Congratulations! You sound great! I hope to someday get to do something similar after my arco work improves.

Thanks, Keith. When I started learning learning arco, the goal I expressed to my teacher was "I want to be good enough not to embarrass myself." The holy trinity of lessons, practice, and playing with others will surely bring you to - and past - that point.

That said, because all anyone had to do to participate in this camp was pay some money, there were two or three truly dreadful players (worse than me!). I pity the groups those players ended up in.

 

[Sam Reese]

Such a positive and encouraging post. Thanks for sharing!

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Well done. You already noted anything I could suggest in the form of critique. But I’m 100% cool with the foot tapping.

I applaud you for getting out there and expanding your skill set! Where was the festival? (I confess that I scrolled just to the performance, so I may have missed this in the credits.)

 

[AGCurry]

Well done. You already noted anything I could suggest in the form of critique. But I’m 100% cool with the foot tapping.

I applaud you for getting out there and expanding your skill set! Where was the festival? (I confess that I scrolled just to the performance, so I may have missed this in the credits.)

Under the auspices of the Community Music School of Webster University, in Webster Groves.

 

[AGCurry]

... when I see our news readers and morning TV show hosts work so hard to be interesting to their audience.

Off topic, but I'm nostalgic about news reading in the manner of Walter Cronkite and Huntley & Brinkley, who could convey meaning with an arched eyebrow. Too much enthusiasm leads to subliminal editorializing. I'm particularly offended when I hear a music track behind a news report...

 

[Ed S]

What fun!

I'll listen a couple of more times and see if I can give you any more thougthful feedback from another beginner's perspective. But let me say that your performance at 1:15-25 was only exceeded by 2:45-3:25 and 5:35-55!

Your solo rocked!

I noticed the number of times your bow deviated from parallel - both tip up and down. And you seemed to creep up towards the end of the fingerboard. Intentional or inadvertent? And I'll listen again, but your beat seemed a tad slow at parts of the 2d records (3d?) movt - both before and after your solo. I know my arco timing never holds up to my high standard when playing pizz.

But I'm being picky, since you asked for criticism. Overall, you done great! And kudos also for having the stones to post it here.

Was the cello playing the viola part?

Oh yeah - when my kids were in concert bands/orchestras, the conductors insisted that if they tepped their toe that it was inside of their shoes.

Watching this got me all excited for my group which is coming over in a couple hours. They've been talking about us playing out. If we do and it gets recorded, I'll post it up here and let you ter me apart!

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Under the auspices of the Community Music School of Webster University, in Webster Groves.

Nice! That’s a serious arts school, no wonder it was so well played.

I used to be a team doc for the Gorlocks a few years ago and still see some of their former students. Great school!

One of the things I love most about that video is the diverse group of musicians coming together to play beautiful music that is more than 150 years old. Music has the power to bring the world together. Thanks for sharing!

 

[AGCurry]

What fun!
I'll listen a couple of more times and see if I can give you any more thougthful feedback from another beginner's perspective. But let me say that your performance at 1:15-25 was only exceeded by 2:45-3:25 and 5:35-55!

Nailed those spots, didn't I? One of my favorite sayings is "Rests are music too."

I noticed the number of times your bow deviated from parallel - both tip up and down. And you seemed to creep up towards the end of the fingerboard. Intentional or inadvertent?

At this point in my learning, my teacher is okay with the slant(s) of my bow, meaning: I'm getting better.
Unfortunately, north/south bow placement was not intentional. I believe it results from bending the elbow more than I should. There are so many things I need to think about (because they haven't become second nature), and I'm afraid that my right arm doesn't get the attention it should.

And I'll listen again, but your beat seemed a tad slow at parts of the 2d records (3d?) movt - both before and after your solo. I know my arco timing never holds up to my high standard when playing pizz.

Yeah, this might be an issue of plucking the bass for 45 years and being used to the immediacy of the plucked note, as well as my job of keeping the tempo steady... recognizing the latency involved with bowing, AND a new paradigm of timekeeping ...

Was the cello playing the viola part?

No, this piece was actually written for two violins, cello, and bass.

Watching this got me all excited for my group which is coming over in a couple hours. They've been talking about us playing out. If we do and it gets recorded, I'll post it up here and let you ter me apart!

It will be my pleasure!

 

[Andy Mopley]

Great job! At 4:40 you look like you're ready to go off the blocks..! ;-) And let's not over think things at this point, it is great to get out there and play again!!
The music in IMSLP is pretty hard to read, hopefully you had a better version to work with!
Regards (to all)

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Thanks for sharing. I'm struggling with some of the same things you've mentioned that you're working on in this thread, so it's motivational to see you out there making good music and having fun!

 

[Aragorn35016]

Awesome well done!

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Well done and fun! Good for you.

Regarding tapping ones foot, picture everyone in a symphony tapping feet. Just don’t do it. It is about the other players. A tapping foot can throw off, or distract, a seasoned classical professional. Break the habit.

A friendly constructive observation regarding the cello:
Yes she was out of tune and came unglued, it is obvious. Try not to comment.

I have noticed that the best top local music professionals I have come across have been consistent in never negatively criticizing another player. There have been many opportunities for them.

Don’t be too hard on the lady. She may be an absolute beginner who has rarely or never played a solo in front of an audience, or frantic with stage fright, or perhaps panicked when the word ‘solo’ appeared. Or who knows what. She could also be stellar in her own musical improvement and we should be so fortunate to do the same.

She came unraveled at bars 62 and 68. After listening I got interested and played her solo. It took a number of times for myself to get it presentable. We can be sure she would like to get that moment in time back. It has happened to me and it will happen to all of us.