Double Bass Tips for section playing

[fergus currie]

While surfing around I found this on Jason Heath's Blog:
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Some of these tips are very good in general but a lot of them apply to a specific theatre and it's acoustic properties. And others might (although I'm not certain) aplly just because of the quality of the instruments used in the orchestra in question.

The list is apparently handed out to extra players coming to the orchestra so they can adjust and 'fit in' more quckly. If this was a list of things that a bassist should know in general then shouldn't he be taught them at school?

In the GNO we have some conventions about how loud and where to play, about accopanying with pizzicati, cello/bass divisi etc.

Have a read of this article and post your own thoughts and conventions.

Maybe this thread could become a repository for other interesting ideas about section playing.

FC

 

[David Potts]

I would consider a good section player one who can play in time, in tune, all the notes, musically and with good sense of style. Beyond these basis attributes the best players will be those who do all these things really, really well. Experience really does matter, for instance if you have played the same piece a number of times under different conductors, however a technically well trained young player can quickly compensate for lack of experience by keeping their eyes and ears wide open.

Not everyone in the Section will necessarily like you as a person but you will earn their respect if you quickly fit in with the overall sound and contribute strongly. At first it can be hard to judge how loudly to play, often treading a fine line between hearing yourself and "leading from the back desk!!"

Many of Dr. Morton's directives seem overly prescriptive unless directly related to his performance space and acoustic. Any versatile professional musician should quickly pick up on the acoustic, how the section plays, how each piece in the program differs stylistically and how the conductor beats. Normal orchestral etiquette should ask (if not require or demand) that a section player follows not only bowings and other markings decided on by the Section Leader but also whereabouts on the bow to play. All questions are put to the conductor through the Section Leader and you never comment or answer back directly to the conductor (even if you might feel like punching out his lights!).

Often each individual player has strengths and weaknesses and these quickly become apparent as you sit among them, just as they will observe yours. Try not to be too judgemental of others. Let the Principal lead. He is paid more than you and receives more accolades but has more expected of him. Not everyone has the temperament to be a Principal regardless of how well they can play. A colleague of mine once said, "It is better to be a servant in Heaven than a leader in Hell."

Cheers......

DP

 

[fergus currie]

Nice post, David. I wonder if young players have the experience to keep their eyes and ears open though. I suppose this is how you get experince.