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Double Bass New World Largo Db chord

#2
There are four notes. If you have 4 bassists, you're done. If 8, it's usually doubled. If you have another number of players, say 6, you might have two players double two of the notes, of just have 4 players play the chord. You could ask the conductor, but that usually just confuses them. :)
 
#3
neilG said:
There are four notes. If you have 4 bassists, you're done. If 8, it's usually doubled. If you have another number of players, say 6, you might have two players double two of the notes, of just have 4 players play the chord. You could ask the conductor, but that usually just confuses them. :)
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Thanks. That's what I suspected. We're a three-bass section, so we'll dibby it up.

Dvorak doesn't frequent this board much; do you think his intent was to split the two-note chords amongst players, or is he asking players to do the impossible by playing both notes at the same time? (I realize this would be a WAG.)
 
#4
If my memory of the chord is correct then omit the 2nd note from the bottom so that you play the D flat, D flat octave and the F. Project the chord very firmly to give yourselves confidence. The conductor will say if you are too loud but you will have set the sounds of success in your ears. Even in a six-bass or eight-bass section the chord will sound cleanest and best with four players, usually the front four. Less room for error.

Two notes is normal divisi with each desk splitting the notes (unless there is only one of you!!). With three basses all playing arco have two on the bottom and one on top. When the top line is arco and the bottom line is pizzicato decide on which line is the most important. Often the pizzicato is emphasizing the start of the arco note and one player plucking is sufficient.

Mahler (eg 2nd Symphony) contains sections asking for Erste Halfte and Die andere Halfte which means front four then back four players, and unis(on) means tutti again. With three of you just play everything.

Cheers, DP
 
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#5
gprigge said:
Thanks. That's what I suspected. We're a three-bass section, so we'll dibby it up.

Dvorak doesn't frequent this board much; do you think his intent was to split the two-note chords amongst players, or is he asking players to do the impossible by playing both notes at the same time? (I realize this would be a WAG.)
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It's unlikely he expected anything other than a 4-way divisi.
 
#6
Thank you Neil and David. Very helpful. This is my third year of community orchestra; we do two concerts a year. Section mates have a long drive to practice and don't always make it so I often have to fend for myself. Daunting is an understatement.
 
#14
I've played this several times with 3 basses.

The safest bet is to leave out the higher Db. That way you get all the notes of the triad.

I have done it where I played a double stop on the low Db and Ab, another player played the higher Db and the principal played the high F. But, I found there was a high potential of playing it out of tune because of where it sits on the neck.

Great piece to play.
 
#16
Speaking of the third movement, to accommodate the page turn andso that we can nail the two note bass section "solo" on the Del Capo, I photocopy the first page, cut out the first few lines and attach it to the top of the second page. Or photocopy the second page, cut out the chromatic lead up to the DC and tape it to the first page and turn back during the rest.
 
#17
bejoyous said:
The safest bet is to leave out the higher Db. That way you get all the notes of the triad.

I have done it where I played a double stop on the low Db and Ab, another player played the higher Db and the principal played the high F. But, I found there was a high potential of playing it out of tune because of where it sits on the neck.

Great piece to play.
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If you can play the complete chord with a cellist helping, why wouldn't you? For amateur players especially, that has a more likely chance of being in tune than playing double stops. If there's a problem playing the upper F in tune, somebody needs to practice more, or have the cellist play that note. Leaving out a a note is the least musical option.
 
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#19
#20
I disagree, having actually played it in a 3 person section trying it both ways. The fifth it that low register creates a nice wooliness to the sound whereas getting the higher Dd exactly in tune with the bottom one is rather tricky and just makes the other instrumentalists roll their eyes that bassists are an embarrassment to the orchestra.
 

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