Double Bass Shostakovich #5

[Simandl Fan]

How would you bow the opening motif of the first movement?

I'm hooking it: (rest) up down/down up/up down/down up. The International excerpt book does it this way: (rest) up down/up down/up down/up down. I like my way, although I won't be principal when we do this next season. How do you like it?

 

[koricancowboy]

I like the second way.

 

[Jordan M]

I've never played it, but from the sound of it and the piece, I also like the second way.

 

[bassics1975]

I have played this one in the past and I would think that the second way you describe is more conventional.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

I wouldn't hook it... that phrase is quite the statement. Each short note is the start of something, rather than being a passing note on the way to the next big thing. And it's easiest to execute with the short notes on the up bow, so that's how it should be done.

You hook things where you have a little short passing note combining in with the longer one, as in lots of dance rhythms. Where the short note needs to come out on its own, don't hook unless it's so fast you can't execute it without the hook.

 

[ILIA]

There's a reason some sections play it hooked. Some sections are large enough, strong enough, and agile enough.

If I have to break it up, and not hook, I have to be very quick about the recovery. The rest of the section needs to be just as adamant about the release, quick recovery and placement, and articulate attack on the subsequent long note. If the section can't do that, then hook it. (assuming the section is a normal size of 6-8 or more)

For auditions--sight reading or prepared: hook it.

In both cases of bowings, very quick bow change from the short note to the long.

 

[LouisF]

I'm doing this now with a very good community orchestra. I come in for the last 3 rehearsals. The principal has us doing down/down on the first phrase. Then up/down etc; Comments?