We’ve featured the extraordinary double bass soloist Boguslaw Furtok many times on the blog in the past, and this clip (submitted by double bassist Ian Hallas ,who just performed the Bottesini Concerto with orchestra this week) is no exception.  Sha Ye (violin) and Boguslaw play a seven minute excerpt from this fun and virtuosic piece:

I’ve played this piece several times in the past, and I always have a blast with it.  Check out more great content from Boguslaw through the links below.

Related Posts:

• Furtok plays Debussy
• Furtok plays Bottesini Gran Duo Concertante
• Furtok plays Proto Sonata ‘1963′
• Furtok plays Eccles mvt 4
• Furtok plays Franck Sonata

subscribe to the blog - subscribe to the podcast

We will be wrapping up the third and final part of our interview with National Symphony bassist Ira Gold this weekend, as well as featuring a recording of Ira playing some Bach.  Ira is an outstanding bassist and teacher and an extraordinary musical and technical thinker on the instrument.  Check out the first two parts of the interview on Ira’s Contrabass Conversations page, and stay tuned for the final part this weekend!

subscribe to the blog - subscribe to the podcast

Here’s a shot by Julieta Cervantes (for the New York Times) of Tim Cobb along with James Levine, John Harbison, Elliot Carter, and Milton Babbitt. Tim is the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra principal bassist.

Read the accompanying New York Times story here. Thanks to bass blog reader Jon for passing along this link.

Related Posts:

• Giant and Dwarf instruments
• Lucite double bass
• Four bass players playing one instrument
• Art Davis with ice sculpture
• Chicago Symphony bass section tour photos

subscribe to the blog - subscribe to the podcast

A few days ago, I logged into my Facebook account and discovered the following message:

"Jason Heath would like to be friends with you…"

Me….become friends with me?  I clicked the Jason Heath profile and, sure enough, it was another Jason Heath, only living in the U. K. instead of Chicago.

Then I noticed his recent updates:

Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.
Jason Heath is now friends with Jason Heath.

…and so on and so on.

What’s going on?  Is this the Twilight Zone?  I clicked some of the names.  Sure enough, they were all different Jason Heaths, all living in Great Britain, and all being rounded together by this particular Jason Heath.

After becoming his Facebook friend, I inquired about his project.  He messaged back, saying that he had found 75 Jason Heaths on Facebook thus far and was becoming friends with all of them.

I’d just like folks to know that we Jason Heaths have found each other, that we’re organized, and that we’re planning on taking over the world (or at least Great Britain).  Now I just need to work on my Cockney accent to allow for clear communication in our battle plans….

William J. Zick wrote an interesting post on his AfriClassical blog earlier this week, stating:

The rumor that Beethoven is Black just won’t go away, in spite of the lack of any real evidence. What most people are unaware of is Beethoven’s real relationship with the Black violinist George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860).

Today I have posted the meticulously documented essay on his life by my principal adviser, Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University, who has specialized in Black composers and musicians for four decades.

Beethoven wrote his Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A Minor, Op. 47 to display the virtuoso talent of Bridgetower.

Beethoven rescinded his dedication to Bridgetower because of a personal disagreement prior to publication. It was also George Bridgetower who was accompanied on piano by Beethoven at the work’s debut performance in 1803 at Vienna’s Auergarten Theater.

Check out the complete post here.

Related Posts:

• Joshua Nemith featured on Chris Foley’s Pagecast
• Corner Violin Shop - great example of a small business blog
• Frank Zappa on the decline of the music industry
• Free=Worthless?
• Innovative arts funding model in Chicago jazz scene

subscribe to the blog - subscribe to the podcast