My Double Bass Recording!

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:22 pm

http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=12JG ... U7V4VQVKUV

Hey guys! I wanted to give you all a flavor of how my double bass sounds and of my playing.

This recording was done as an entry to a competition. It is a live recording done at Alice Tully Hall in NYC in May of 2004 and features me playing the double bass with the NY Youth Symphony under the direction of Amir Katz.

I am playing a German double bass, circa 1875. It is being recorded using studio microphones, one of which was taped (using non abrasive instrument tape) to the body of my bass to capture the fullest tone.

The piece of music is the first movement of "Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra in E-flat major" by J.B. Vanhal (written ca. 1750). The cadenza was written by K. Grueber (and is my favorite part...comes in at around the 5 minute mark).

I hope you all enjoy!

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:16 pm

post some feedback for me! I know you guys have some opinions, and I'd love to hear 'em.

thejoe · Unread post by **thejoe** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:20 pm

i would listen, but it would take me about a half hour to download that

now i probably got you excited that someone had a comment... oh well

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:21 pm

no worries...I will try to find a shorter piece or cut this one to a segment to facilitate faster downloads

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:34 pm

wow, someone with actual musical talent

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:38 pm

thanks! I really appreciate that, but I believ talent is subjective. I just work really hard; I am no more or less talented than anyone. You all are wonderful musicians in your own rights, and I respect you for it.

I will be posting a Bach recording later tonight...it is the famous Prelude to the G-Major Cello Suite.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:40 pm

MahlerGrooves wrote:thanks! I really appreciate that, but I believ talent is subjective. I just work really hard; I am no more or less talented than anyone. You all are wonderful musicians in your own rights, and I respect you for it.

I will be posting a Bach recording later tonight...it is the famous Prelude to the G-Major Cello Suite.

no no, you have actual talent on an instrument that requires skill gained through constant practice (unlike the guitar). there isn't anyone else on here like that

myxomatosis · Unread post by **myxomatosis** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:43 pm

fatjack wrote:
MahlerGrooves wrote:thanks! I really appreciate that, but I believ talent is subjective. I just work really hard; I am no more or less talented than anyone. You all are wonderful musicians in your own rights, and I respect you for it.

I will be posting a Bach recording later tonight...it is the famous Prelude to the G-Major Cello Suite.
no no, you have actual talent on an instrument that requires skill gained through constant practice (unlike the guitar). there isn't anyone else on here like that

Ben Pezzer? or whatever his name is

And I'd say that guitar requires skill gained through constant practice too.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:44 pm

thepackage0 wrote:
fatjack wrote:
MahlerGrooves wrote:thanks! I really appreciate that, but I believ talent is subjective. I just work really hard; I am no more or less talented than anyone. You all are wonderful musicians in your own rights, and I respect you for it.

I will be posting a Bach recording later tonight...it is the famous Prelude to the G-Major Cello Suite.
no no, you have actual talent on an instrument that requires skill gained through constant practice (unlike the guitar). there isn't anyone else on here like that
Ben Pezzer? or whatever his name is

oh, yeah, then there are two people

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:09 pm

I cannot play guitar worth crap, and I really do respect you guys for being so good.

Plus, you all play an instrument with 6 strings, and I only have to deal with 4. 8)

unifaller · Unread post by **unifaller** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:39 pm

do you play electric bass too?

rin · Unread post by **rin** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:43 pm

very nice! that's great stuff, you should post more

question.. out of curiosity, how much does a double bass like that cost? also, are there major differences between a bass that's played with a bow, and one that's mostly plucked (like in jazz)? or can the same bass be used for either?

and have you ever heard of edgar meyer? i saw him play with bela fleck once.. amazing

sorry for the 20 questions.. i just think it's cool you play the double bass!

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:50 pm

rin wrote:very nice! that's great stuff, you should post more

question.. out of curiosity, how much does a double bass like that cost? also, are there major differences between a bass that's played with a bow, and one that's mostly plucked (like in jazz)? or can the same bass be used for either?

and have you ever heard of edgar meyer? i saw him play with bela fleck once.. amazing

sorry for the 20 questions.. i just think it's cool you play the double bass!

1- My bass is worth around $35,000 and it is of acceptable professional quality. My teacher has an instrument circa 1650 that is $1.35 million, and my best friend who is in the Chicago Symphony sublist has one that is about $5,000 but he makes it sound like a million dollar instrument through his playing.

2 - The actual instrument will be good for either. If the instrument is very well made and sounds beautiful, the style will not matter. Milt Hinton actually used to own a bass my teacher now owns - he played jazz and she is in the NY Phil. What makes the difference are the strings. Depending on the tightness of the wind and the material and layers, a string will be more responsive to plucking or bowing. In fact, a specific instrument can sound TERRIBLE with one set of strings and like a beauty with a different one. There is a lot of trial and error, and most bassists don't ever use the same brand or model of string for more than one of their strings (my E is a different make than my G, and my D and A are made by the same people, just different models).

3- Not only have I heard of Edgar, I have taken a few lessons with him. His playing is flawless, which actually makes him a bad teacher. While he has a lot to say on musicality, he never had to struggle with the instrument, so he does not know how to approach some technical problems that us mere mortals have.

I will be posting a recording I did today in a few minutes. I am glad you all enjoy the music!

You_Enjoy_Myself · Unread post by **You_Enjoy_Myself** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:51 pm

very nice job dude! Sounded really good.

Have you ever heard of Todd Sickafoose? He's a really great upright bassist I saw play with Ani DiFranco and I was amazed at how high up the neck he could play, at times it looked like he was off the fretboard.

MahlerGrooves · Unread post by **MahlerGrooves** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:52 pm

unifaller wrote:do you play electric bass too?

Nope

I can play a little if it is a fretless with an extended fingerboard, but my hand is so trained with precise motions, that I cannot break the distances I am programmed to shift (which are a lot smaller on EBass and guitar...which explains my guitar difficulties).

Sorry for the double post!

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My Double Bass Recording!

My Double Bass Recording!

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