+1 on Bill Schrickel, He's got a unique, killer technique with lots of knowledge which he is always willing to share
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Double Bass Top 5 Orchestral Bassists
- Thread starter BrianMcAnally
- Start date
I found the LSO Principal on Youtube playing the stuff for the youtube symphony contest:
I remember reading about him in one of the old bass mags I have...coming across as being humble, frank and honest in the interview. I thought that was pretty cool and so even if I hadn't ever heard him play I'd give him a top 5 spot for that alone.
Rinat Ibragimov!
Have you heard him play in the video then? His playing of a Beethoven excerpt is very out of tune and rough!
I showed my teacher this video and he even said that based on his playing in it, it sounds about as good as many students!
Oddly though, his solo playing is quite good. But based on his orchestral playing in the video, It's shocking to see him in a great orchestra.
That's ridiculous. Rinat Ibragimov is a fine musician and bass player. I find his French Bow technique quite unusual and interesting, but the guy has a great tone and a lot of energy...He's also the principal of one of the finest orchestra's in the world, and Tom Martin himself saught him out to replace him. I don't think you can make such an outlandish statement based on one video that the guy was probably just sight reading!
With the utmost respect to Mr. Ibragimov, that was not professional level bass playing. I agree with Hemispheres.
Everyone has an off day. And he's the Principal of the London Symphony...Are you saying you're better than him Brandon? After all, you must have more experience than Mr. Ibragimov.
Hey, now! Let's not explode, here.
I did not even insinuate that I am better than Mr. Ibragimov. I did say that, at a professional level of his pedigree, that was particularly hard to swallow. Being a professional -- especially the principal of a top 5 world orchestra -- means bring the goods every day. A bad day for the LSO's principal, or even section bass, should sound significantly better. Perhaps he was sick, perhaps he was hungover, or maybe it was recorded at four in the morning. Whatever the circumstance, that was quite shocking.
I am keeping in respect. Your comment, however, was out of bounds. Now may we return to tasteful commentary?
I did not even insinuate that I am better than Mr. Ibragimov. I did say that, at a professional level of his pedigree, that was particularly hard to swallow. Being a professional -- especially the principal of a top 5 world orchestra -- means bring the goods every day. A bad day for the LSO's principal, or even section bass, should sound significantly better. Perhaps he was sick, perhaps he was hungover, or maybe it was recorded at four in the morning. Whatever the circumstance, that was quite shocking.
I am keeping in respect. Your comment, however, was out of bounds. Now may we return to tasteful commentary?
Just show some respect. He's the Principal of a major orchestra. You're still a student. Period.
"With the utmost respect..."
Showing respect and being a student do not prevent one from making an observation. Believe me, I was being nice. There are students (yes, students) that can run circles around the display that he gave. Not I, perhaps not you, but others are more than capable.
I do respect Mr. Ibragimov as an accomplished musician. Obviously, he is quite successful. He is a fine musician and by no means a bad bassist. Perhaps he sounded very different at the time of his audition. No more hostility. Back to the discussion.
Showing respect and being a student do not prevent one from making an observation. Believe me, I was being nice. There are students (yes, students) that can run circles around the display that he gave. Not I, perhaps not you, but others are more than capable.
I do respect Mr. Ibragimov as an accomplished musician. Obviously, he is quite successful. He is a fine musician and by no means a bad bassist. Perhaps he sounded very different at the time of his audition. No more hostility. Back to the discussion.
I think we should also bare in mind that this was a performance for Youtube, which is a nice outlet, but in the end its not the same environment as an audition or playing infront of a packed concert hall. He probably got it done and over with in one take.
I want to see more major orchestra principals throw out on Youtube like Rinat Ibragimov, to get a better understanding of what the complaints are about.
Until I can find other major orchestra pros doing audition excerpts, I don't see a reason to kick this guy out of the top 5.
Until I can find other major orchestra pros doing audition excerpts, I don't see a reason to kick this guy out of the top 5.
Go pick up a cd by Ed Barker and you'll realize that Ed is on a totally different level, also Robert Oppelt has a nice cd out too. I wish there were cds by more major principals, or recital videos on youtube. You could check out Colin Corner on youtube, who is the principal of the Rochester Phil(not a top orch.) and see his level of playing compared to Rinat's.
yeah, with all due respect, IMHO, hemispheres and bmason are absolutely right. guys like ed barker, hal robinson, and chris hanulik simply play at a much higher level than this, all the time. so do countless others. eli upright, with all due respect, i have to say i take issue with your logic. this video is clearly for students, a demonstration of how he thinks these excerpts are supposed to be played, so if he isnt giving it his all, i, as a student, think thats somewhat offensive. oh, and, with all due respect, this
just made me laugh out loud. i really, really, really hope that the principal bassist of one of the worlds legitimate top orchestras is not sight reading the beetoven 9 recits....
johnny l, i too wish that there was readily available video footage of other pros playing excerpts. theres a hard to find dvd (formerly vhs) from the 80s of hal robinson playing and discussing TONS of excerpts, just about all the major ones and more. really, really, really well. IMHO, i would say that anyone impressed by mr ibragimovs youtube video should try very hard to get their hands, eyes, and ears on it. or better yet, go to the isb convention this summer.
i, like everyone else it seems, have not heard nearly enough orchestra principals to comfortably name the top 5, but i will say that the guys i mentioned earlier play orchestral music just about as well as it can be played. IMHO.
just made me laugh out loud. i really, really, really hope that the principal bassist of one of the worlds legitimate top orchestras is not sight reading the beetoven 9 recits....
johnny l, i too wish that there was readily available video footage of other pros playing excerpts. theres a hard to find dvd (formerly vhs) from the 80s of hal robinson playing and discussing TONS of excerpts, just about all the major ones and more. really, really, really well. IMHO, i would say that anyone impressed by mr ibragimovs youtube video should try very hard to get their hands, eyes, and ears on it. or better yet, go to the isb convention this summer.
i, like everyone else it seems, have not heard nearly enough orchestra principals to comfortably name the top 5, but i will say that the guys i mentioned earlier play orchestral music just about as well as it can be played. IMHO.
Wow you guys must be really good to trash someone like Mr. Ibragimov.
Please to post videos of you playing the excerpts discussed?
Very European style, with much concern for dynamics, quality of vibrato, and artistic nuance. Not at all the way guys audition here, but perfectly valid, especially in context...
Please to post videos of you playing the excerpts discussed?
Very European style, with much concern for dynamics, quality of vibrato, and artistic nuance. Not at all the way guys audition here, but perfectly valid, especially in context...
with all due respect, you dont have to be domenico ghirardelli to know that ghirardellis chocolate is better than hersheys, and you dont need to be ed barker to know that ed barker plays better than ibragimov does, at least in that video, which is what we are talking about. you need only sample the two. nowhere in this thread did anybody say that they were better than ibragimov, but i did name other orchestral players who are, which seems more than fair considering the thread title and original post. i even referenced (as well as i could), a video on which my comparisons are, in part, based. so dont be dumb. though i did not and will not say that i play better than ibragimov, i will tell you with absolute sincerity that if and when i take professional auditions, my excerpts will be more polished than that youtube video. especially if its for the principal spot of one of the worlds 10 best orchestras. IMHO.
This has gotten a little heated. No matter what peoples opinions, he is the Principal bassist of the LSO. None of us are. I reckon he didn't get that job by kissin' ass. I'm sure when he has to throw down, he can like no-ones business. To suggest otherwise is silly.
I'm no classical player, but I can relate to the debate. To my ears, Ron Carter can play some very questionable stuff. But, he also can play some of the most inspiring things I have ever heard.
While we are in the right to be nit-picky about his playing, it is prudent to remember his station.
I'm no classical player, but I can relate to the debate. To my ears, Ron Carter can play some very questionable stuff. But, he also can play some of the most inspiring things I have ever heard.
While we are in the right to be nit-picky about his playing, it is prudent to remember his station.
personally i think its silly to judge someones playing on what you havent heard as opposed to what you have. call me crazy. with all due respect, of course.
It pleases me that as you are typing this, that dude is out there being the Principal Bassist of the LSO.
I think this was requested:
I would say that is orchestral playing at its finest. Casual recording, more informal than the YouTube Symphony Orchestra Masterclass videos. That is what it takes.
I would say that is orchestral playing at its finest. Casual recording, more informal than the YouTube Symphony Orchestra Masterclass videos. That is what it takes.
