Double Bass Yeah, I Know This is Blasphemy

[Les Fret]

I stand with Bertram Turetzky in that a "First class instrument shouldn't play transcriptions in public".

That of course is not always true. Some transcriptions are really great. Some are even better then the original piece. I prefer the guitar version of Albeniz' Asturias to the piano version for example.

You are right that each instrument should find his own 'voice' and repertoire. I have to admit that I prefer listening to cello pieces much more than double bass solo pieces. So I can also imagine why classical composers preferred composing cello solo pieces.

 

[damonsmith]

Ergo, I have no issue with transcription if it's well executed. Some of our most beloved pieces are transcriptions, from Eccles to Arpeggione to Moses to Kol Nidre... Heavy emphasis on "well executed."

Agreed, I do think we finally at a place where it needn't be our default setting for performance.
I also really love the Vivaldi, Marcello & Scarlatti Sonatas. They sit just fine on the bass.

 

[AlcalaBass]

Wow it's amazing to hear bassist tell other bassist that their instrument is the wrong instrument to play a piece of music on. As bassist we have all heard cellist say we butcher the Bach cello suites, and now it's common to hear it played on a bass.
My point is we should never put down a fellow musician just because we think they're playing a piece of music on the "wrong" instrument.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Wow it's amazing to hear bassist tell other bassist that their instrument is the wrong instrument to play a piece of music on. As bassist we have all heard cellist say we butcher the Bach cello suites, and now it's common to hear it played on a bass.
My point is we should never put down a fellow musician just because we think they're playing a piece of music on the "wrong" instrument.

No, but it's perfectly fine to criticize people when they transcribe something from another instrument and do it poorly.

 

[chicagodoubler]

Indeed. If this had been a virtuosic performance, or if the player had actually hit all the notes, or had a good tone, this would be a different story.

We are not in the habit of praising anonymous mediocrity, and there is no reason we ever should be in such a wretched, dishonest habit.

 

[David Jayne]

Indeed. If this had been a virtuosic performance, or if the player had actually hit all the notes, or had a good tone, this would be a different story.
.

QFT.

 

[Meremortal]

I think Herbie Hancock completely missed the mark covering a Nirvana song, but I wouldn't say doing so was disrespectful.

Jazz and classical were meant to be music of the masses and have become this esoteric personal territory of an elite few. Maybe that's why so people listen anymore.

 

[chicagodoubler]

Or maybe... If everyone cared about the music on the level it truly deserves and put their hearts and souls into it, the audience would return. Touché.

Treat it with reverence and be aware of your audience and miracles happen.

 

[Ewo]

I got no dog in this fight, for sure...but I was thinking of Jaco playing Donna Lee: a tune written for alto sax* played on an EB.


*Well, OK. It was Miles's tune so is it more accurate to say it was written for trumpet?

 

[chicagodoubler]

Ewo, that tune is famous for ebass via Jaco *because* it was executed on a level that scared the world and changed ebass forever. Very few have been brave enough to play that complete transcription in public.

Excellence is excellent, no matter the context. The opposite is equally, and painfully true.

 

[Meremortal]

Or maybe... If everyone cared about the music on the level it truly deserves and put their hearts and souls into it, the audience would return. Touché.

Treat it with reverence and be aware of your audience and miracles happen.

Maybe other people's heart and soul isn't in accord with yours.

I also disagree that something has to be world altering to be valid. I've also heard Jaco sound horrible. Imagine if I drew my conclusion based on one of those performances?

I'm not taking any sides here in regard to judgement. I just think there's too much negativity in general.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Ewo, that tune is famous for ebass via Jaco *because* it was executed on a level that scared the world and changed ebass forever. Very few have been brave enough to play that complete transcription in public.

Excellence is excellent, no matter the context. The opposite is equally, and painfully true.

Yup.

 

[Meremortal]

Yup.

I question those who are quick to criticize. Even if someone sucks, there's no need to try and diminish them. I've found it's the most successful people who are the most encouraging.

The OP also orchestrated the strings on that piece so for that alone I'd show some respect -- even if it isn't your thing.

 

[Ewo]

Ewo, that tune is famous for ebass via Jaco *because* it was executed on a level that scared the world and changed ebass forever. Very few have been brave enough to play that complete transcription in public.

Excellence is excellent, no matter the context. The opposite is equally, and painfully true.

For sure! I wasn't defending the OP's clip. (That's why I said I didn't have a dog in the fight.) I was just thinking of an example of a piece "ported" to a totally different instrument, and working very well. There had been some comments that such things always and everywhere turn out badly, and Jaco's version of Donna Lee is a counterexample, by my lights.

And Scott Devine made one of his lessons on playing the head to Donna Lee. He did a good job on it, I thought.


Hey, if memory serves there was a video of NHOP and Joe Pass (?) doing Donna Lee.......


Me...eh...it's a study piece...still! I don't expect I'll ever play it anywhere but my practice room.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

I question those who are quick to criticize. Even if someone sucks, there's no need to try and diminish them. I've found it's the most successful people who are the most encouraging.

The OP also orchestrated the strings on that piece so for that alone I'd show some respect -- even if it isn't your thing.

I'm all for supporting people who are working on things or want to improve, and I'm not implying the OP (who's been banned anyway) is somehow inept at arranging music. But he presented it as a completed work, and I gave my commentary as such. I don't really see any redeeming artistic value to be gained from dumbing down Vanhal for bass guitar, and that's really all I have to say.

 

[Justin K-ski]

Really? This thread is still going on?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I question those who are quick to criticize. Even if someone sucks, there's no need to try and diminish them. I've found it's the most successful people who are the most encouraging.

The OP also orchestrated the strings on that piece so for that alone I'd show some respect -- even if it isn't your thing.

Meremortal here is the OP. A user that originally was banned long ago named plangentmusic who has come back under innumerous accounts trying to get people to listen to his music. So yeah- take this post with the biggest grain of salt you can possibly find.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Oh yeah....

so much for the brotherhood of musicians. I thought it was pretty inventive. i hope to play as well someday.

This user is plangentmusic again trying to compliment his own stuff

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Meremortal here is the OP. A user that originally was banned long ago named plangentmusic who has come back under innumerous accounts trying to get people to listen to his music. So yeah- take this post with the biggest grain of salt you can possibly find.

This is the biggest grain I could find quickly. Still too small for this collection of banned accounts IMO:

 

[Don Higdon]

I can't believe I just read this entire thread.