Double Bass Who amongst you has played this?

[Alexis Duntov]

I’m playing this with a high school orchestra at the high school where I’m completing my teaching hours, and this thing is a beast. There is so much advanced bowing skill required and rhythmic displacement that happens, not to mention a million articulations and dynamics. It’s an incredible piece of music for string orchestra. Just curious how common it is and how many members of this forum have played this. This is an advanced orchestra at a specialty school.

 

[Leif Dering]

I played this piece last fall or winter, and his granddaughter and great granddaughter were in the audience. Pretty cool! I found it fairly sight readable (I was a ringer for this gig), but it took quite a bit of concentration.

It's a fantastic piece. Wish I got to play more of his work.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

I played this piece last fall or winter, and his granddaughter and great granddaughter were in the audience. Pretty cool! I found it fairly sight readable (I was a ringer for this gig), but it took quite a bit of concentration.

It's a fantastic piece. Wish I got to play more of his work.

Sounds like you are a better sight reader than I am. The whole thing is almost all 8th notes, but there is a lot of displacement and tricky rhythmic things. For me anyway. But yes, the Concerto Grosso from which this comes is very cool and very unique.

 

[Brilee]

I played his Suite Modale for my undergrad audition as a flute major a million years ago. He wrote very pleasant music. His music looks simple on the page, but I agree about the rhythmic fluidity of it. Not your standard 4 feel, ever, practially.

 

[elberon]

I’ve never played that one. I’ve played Schelomo (a piece written for cello and orchestra) a few times and it was tricky in places for bass. Kind of quasi tonal with a lot of dissonance. Get a recording, the eighth notes might not be as fast as you think they are. You say a high school orchestra is playing this, interesting programming.

 

[neilG]

Played it many times. This movement should be right on target with a good HS bass section. Not really difficult at all, IMO. Are they playing the other movements?

 

[Alexis Duntov]

Played it many times. This movement should be right on target with a good HS bass section. Not really difficult at all, IMO. Are they playing the other movements?

Yes

 

[Alexis Duntov]

Yes

I disagree that this is not really difficult at all!