Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog » bass

Sign petition to allow musical instruments on airplanes now!

Jason — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 +0000

From the International Society of Bassists:

The American Federation of Musicians is gathering signatures on a petition to urge Congress to adopt uniform rules for musicians to carry on or check their instruments aboard U.S. planes.

To view the bill as currently written, go to http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s1451/text. Section 713 “Transporting Musical Instruments” a.(3) provides for instruments too large to be carried into the cabin to be checked without additional charge (!), maximum combined linear measurements 150 inches, and maximum weight 165 pounds. Sounds like a dream come true!

You’ll have to sign in and create an account in order to sign the petition. If this kind of legislation would pass, life for traveling bass players could end up changing radically (for the better!).

Glazounov Elegy music?

Jason — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

While I’m in “asking the public” mode, anybody know how to get ahold of a copy of the Glazounov Elegy? Here’s a video of the piece as performed by Hans Roelofsen. Drop me a line if you know details on publishers for this piece.

Wow–listen to that tone!

Paganini Moses Fantasy for full orchestra?

Jason — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Anybody know how to get ahold of the score and parts for the full orchestra version of Paganini’s Moses Fantasy? If so, drop me a line at jasonheath -at- doublebassblog.org. Thanks!

Rabbath versus Simandl continued

Jason — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

One of the fun things about running a blog is seeing how posts from many years ago still generate comments. The following comment comes from a discussion from 2007 about the merits of the Rabbath and Simandl systems as teaching materials for younger students.

The original post can be found here, and a quite articulate follow-up post from double bassist John Tuck is a must-read as well. Here’s the comment that just came in–interesting:

I am a conductor, composer and double bassist with an active performing and teaching career. While I have been a bass teacher for 37 years, I have never allowed my thinking about the bass to stand still. This curiosity moved me to spend most of my 45 years on the bass experimenting with and analysing every approach or system I came across. I believe the result of this journey is a synthetic approach that combines the strongest elements of each set of practices into a cohesive yet open architecture that consistently produces rapid progress for my students… and now their students as well.

The author correctly points out that the “traditional” position labeling system (Simandl) is difficult to remember and offers little in the way of context that would help students make sense of either the geography/topography of the fingerboard and the locations of pitches on the strings. I still have to work to remember it after all these years. Rabbath’s reduction to 6 positions is defintely a step in the right direction and begs the question: Can we make additional improvements?

As I write this post, I am in the middle of composing an article on a fresh look at the double bass fingerboard that includes a system for labeling positions that is simple, logical and descriptive. In other words, the labeling actually supports the students’ decision making process with respect to shifting and fingerings as it confirms the location of pitches on each string.

I will return to add information when I complete the article.

Check out all the comments for the two previously linked posts as well–some interesting perspectives (and feel free to add your own, of course).

Aluminum double basses – want one?

Jason — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Interested in a new aluminum double bass? Dave Gartland from midnightrockers.co.uk is making new ones. Here’s a link to the specific page on these new basses.

The IRIS Orchestra (photo)

Jason — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Ahhh, Facebook… it certainly has an ability to bring back all sorts of fond memories. Here’s a photo in which someone tagged me recently. It’s of the IRIS Orchestra from the mid-2000′s. I’m on the right along with double bassist Scott Best (check out his Contrabass Conversations interview and his performance of the third movement of the Harbison Concerto from the 2009 ISB Convention).

Ira Gold joins Peabody Double Bass Faculty

Jason — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Jeff Weisner (National Symphony double bassist and former Contrabass Conversations guest, and a regular contributor to doublebassblog.org) let me know that Ira Gold (also a National Symphony double bassist and former Contrabass Conversations guest) will be joining the Peabody Conservatory double bass faculty this fall.

Official Notice:

The Peabody Double Bass Department welcomes the appointment of Ira Gold to the bass faculty. Mr. Gold is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra and on the faculty of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He will join the current faculty, Paul Johnson and Jeffrey Weisner, along with Artist in Residence Harold Robinson.

Links of interest about Ira Gold and the Peabody bass studio:

Ira Gold interview part 1, part 2, part 3
Jeff Weisner’s Contrabass Conversations interview
PeabodyDoubleBass – blog for the Peabody double bass studio (full of interesting articles)

CBC 156: Gunnelpumpers

Jason — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:49:16 +0000

This week, we’re featuring the title track from the nth wave, the debut album from the Gunnelpumpers. Enjoy!

Links:

Jason at the National High School Music Institute

Jason — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:00:02 +0000

Here’s a pic of me during the last week teaching at Northwestern’s National High School Music Institute.

Yes, I am a nerd.

Wilfer fully-carved half-size bass for sale

Jason — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:00:12 +0000

For sale: Wilfer 1/2 size bass for sale: Chicago area

Owner: Ms. Andrea Eichler (847) 870-8056

It was appraised by Scott Henrie in 2003 for $8,000.00

Description: 1/2 size viol shaped string bass made by Emmanuel Wilfer in West Germany, circa 1960. The instrument bears the trade label of John Juzek. The top is of 2 piece spruce with a consistent medium wide grain. The back is carved of slightly figured plain maple with matching ribs and neck The pegbox is fitted with nickel plated brass and steel 1/2 plate tuning machines. The bass is ebony trimmed and fitted with an adjustable bridge. The varnish is a transparent reddish brown color shaded over golden ground color. The bass is in good condition.