Not trying to come off harsh but lower the stand. Or learn to stand and play at the same time.Snakewood said:
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Double Bass Technique: Short Orchestral Bassists
- Thread starter Snakewood
- Start date
Snakewood said:
I've seen some tall cellists who will stack a few of the regular stage chairs... might be an idea.
Now _that's_ a sweeping generalization. Here's a photo from the 2007 Philidelphia Orhestra's program:Snakewood said:
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Here's the NY Phil, with a couple standing:
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There are several pics on this page showing the Ravenna festival orchestra, with several standing bassists: Invalid Link Removed
I usually sit when playing orchestra gigs. But I've always seen a mixture, and would be as surprised to see a section all standing or sitting as I would an American section using all German or French bows. Yes, there are some that are totally one way, but I sure wouldn't make a generaliztion about them.
billyfalconer said:
You should look at those pictures a little more closely. I don't see anyone standing. I see a lot of people sitting at different stool heights. The first picture with Hal is just him sitting on a tall stool. It looks like one person might be standing in the NY Phil picture but it looks more like he is about to turn a page. I didn't see anyone standing in the Ravenna Festival picture either.
I think Simandl was a small guy. Gaston Brohan who was principal of the Detroit Symphony for about 35 years was smaller than I am.
I'm 5'7" and play a 7/8 5-string. It took me a few months to find the right playing positon. Considerations were:
If you screw around long enough you can find the right position. Pictures of how I ended up here:
http://www.billbentgen.com/bass/playing_position.htm
I'm 5'7" and play a 7/8 5-string. It took me a few months to find the right playing positon. Considerations were:
- Getting the bow close enough to the bridge
- Using the whole length of the bow on all strings without having to rotate the bass.
- Being able to reach the B harmonic on the G string
If you screw around long enough you can find the right position. Pictures of how I ended up here:
http://www.billbentgen.com/bass/playing_position.htm
Look also at Streicher; I don't know how tall (short) he is, but he looks pretty short in pictures and his technique is standing, albeit in a rather unusual position.
How about this, stand while your playing. Sit during a long periods of rest, between pieces ect...
Or lower the stand.
Me personaly I stand. The only time I sit is if I'm playing with another group that I am not the featured player. For example This december the CYS is playing w/ the chattanooga boys corus. I'll be in the pitts of the Tivoly sitting my ass off. Except while i'm playing.
Or lower the stand.
Me personaly I stand. The only time I sit is if I'm playing with another group that I am not the featured player. For example This december the CYS is playing w/ the chattanooga boys corus. I'll be in the pitts of the Tivoly sitting my ass off. Except while i'm playing.
I just can't stand if I have the option of sitting. I mean, I've found a great way of sitting where the bass is centered between my legs and I have both feet either on the floor (short stool) or both on rungs (if my feet can't reach the floor.) I personally just find that I can do more playing wise when I'm relaxed, and I'm relaxed when I play sitting.
I'm about 5'9" and I'm fairly stout (small hands, short arms, etc.) and I don't find that I have to do anything special to get around on most normal basses. About the stand height thing: I sit on a low stool as well and since moving to Connecticut, I have had to play in a few sections where everyone stands. When I lived in Boston and Illinois this was not the case but I guess the Gary Karr influence is still strong in CT because of Hartt. Anyway, most players will work with you to find some middle ground with the stand. The benefits of sitting in an orchestral situation are too great to even consider standing just to fit in. I hate it when people suggest that...
chaurett said:
me too..I honestly don't know of any professional section bassists that stands, they'd probably be asked to sit by other players either for blocking the line of site (if they're tall), or sticking out too much.. I know the trend was standing like 40 years ago in almost every major orchestra.
Snakewood said:
I doubt that anyone would be asked to sit if they stood in a professional orchestra. There are professionals who stand in the orchestra but they are few and far between.
