Double Bass Orin O’Brien documentary on Netflix

[groovaholic]

This is my first post on the DB side of TalBass, but I figured this is the appropriate place to share…

I just watched a short (35 minute) documentary about Orin O’Brien on Netflix, called “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”.

If you haven’t seen it already, it’s a short watch and a great tribute to a trailblazer - the first woman in the New York symphony.

Although I’m a bass guitarist, I still found her inspirational and full of great advice on the role of the bassist.

Recommended!

 

[57pbass]

Will definitely watch.. thanks for sharing this.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Orin is an exceptional human being. She was my best teacher by far and a huge inspiration and role model for me. It’s worth watching the show and it very well captures her spirit. She is truly one of a kind.

 

[KeepItMoving]

Watched it the other night and was really impressed by Ms. O’Brien herself and the very well-crafted film. It conveys a lot in a short time and does a tremendous job of showing and not telling - it really delivers a sense of her creative spirit and personality. Inspiring!

 

[Keith Rawlings]

I loved it. What an amazing musician and instructor she is!

 

[oldNewbie]

Ms. O'brien

Orin is an exceptional human being. She was my best teacher by far and a huge inspiration and role model for me. It’s worth watching the show and it very well captures her spirit. She is truly one of a kind.

And she has made available notes to her students. This book is great for orchestral players, very very useful.
Orin O’Brien Double Bass Notebook
(Also available from other non-Am***n vendors).

@rogerbmiller , do you still have your notes ?

 

[rogerbmiller]

Ms. O'brien

And she has made available notes to her students. This book is great for orchestral players, very very useful.
Orin O’Brien Double Bass Notebook
(Also available from other non-Am***n vendors).

@rogerbmiller , do you still have your notes ?

I do not but I don’t remember her giving me notes other than the odd reminder here and there.

 

[Anne Millington]

It was way too short, but wonderful!

 

[evanrunyon]

For the non-Netflixed among us:

This video here is about Jane Little of the Atlanta Symphony, who had a different legacy than Orin—also highly impressive, to be sure, but the Netflix documentary isn’t about Jane.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

This video here is about Jane Little of the Atlanta Symphony, who had a different legacy than Orin—also highly impressive, to be sure, but the Netflix documentary isn’t about Jane.

..and gone. My mistake.

 

[Decomposer]

It's fantastic, a must-see!

 

[Jmilitsc]

this was so good thank you for sharing!

 

[damonsmith]

Manny Alverez sighting! It was a great film. Too short.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

It was way too short, but wonderful!

I totally agree. I refer back to the wonderful stories in the interviews she did with Jason Heath years ago. She has experienced, seen and heard so much music and life that I want to hear more about it all.

 

[Opus_Pocus]

Although I appreciate a short documentary, I was really interested to hear more about her experience as, well, The Only Girl in the Orchestra. My jaw dropped when they were reading the old article about her joining the NY Phil.

Also, a bit of a tease not hearing any of the bass concert that the doc seemed to be culminating towards.

Overall though, lots of good takeaways for orchestral bass players, some nice soundtrack selections, and Orin seems like a great teacher and person. I definitely recommend it.

 

[KeepItMoving]

Ms. O'brien

And she has made available notes to her students. This book is great for orchestral players, very very useful.
Orin O’Brien Double Bass Notebook
(Also available from other non-Am***n vendors).

Just wanted to say that this is, indeed, a very cool and useful collection of material! Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[lurk]

Really enjoyed this. One gripe.. it's too short! I would have loved more details about how she was received; surely some neanderthals must have given her s*** in various ways. She's a NYC legend and I've been hearing anecdotes about her and testimonials from her students for years.

 

[Jacowherearthou]

I'm really excited about watching this documentary.
I tried to contact her about Fred Zimmerman but no doubt she doesn't talk to amateur researchers like me.

 

[Mark_T]

I watched it and came away really being even more impressed by Orin herself than I previously had been, but only so-so impressed by the documentary, which sort of wandered and meandered with scenes preparing for a party and stuff, but less just talking to Orin and getting stories an information than I would have liked.

But it did inspire me to go and and buy her book, which is full of handy stuff and I'm eager to dig through again and again and find more wisdom. She's clearly a legend and a real pillar of the bass community.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I watched it and came away really being even more impressed by Orin herself than I previously had been, but only so-so impressed by the documentary, which sort of wandered and meandered with scenes preparing for a party and stuff, but less just talking to Orin and getting stories an information than I would have liked.

But it did inspire me to go and and buy her book, which is full of handy stuff and I'm eager to dig through again and again and find more wisdom. She's clearly a legend and a real pillar of the bass community.

I can say without hesitation that Orin O'Brien was one of the most positive influences in my life, musical or otherwise. I was beyond thrilled that she received this type of acknowledgment so that people who aren't lucky enough to know her can at least learn about just who she is and all that she has accomplished.