Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

CBC 64: Chicago Bass Ensemble interview and music

This week we feature an interview with and music from the Chicago Bass Ensemble. Group founder Jacque Harper joins former Contrabass Conversations guests Michael Hovnanian and Doug Johnson plus double bass blogger John Floeter to create the core quartet of this ensemble.

The Chicago Bass Ensemble will be performing at Northern Illinois University on February 14. Click here for more details, and learn more about this great ensemble at www.chicagobassensemble.com.

Ever hear an entire bass quartet interviewed at the same time? We sure haven’t, and getting a chance to sit down with these four good-natured fellows was a lot of fun. After the interview, we feature performances of ‘Prologue’ from Prophetiae Sibyllarum by Orlando di Lassus and the first movement of the Quartet No. 2 by Jan Alm.

Learn more about these four musicians through the following links:

Enjoy!

CBC 43: Michael Hovnanian interview part 3 and music from Mark Sonksen

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features the conclusion of our interview with double bassist Michael Hovnanian. Click here to listen to Michael’s previous episodes (CBC 24 and 29). Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview. You will also get a chance to hear Michael play the Discordia Music edition of the Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on this episode.After our interview with Michael, we’ll be featuring two tunes from Chicago-area jazz bassist Mark Sonksen. Mark is the owner of Sonksen Strings, a double bass repair and retail shop located in Chicago. Enjoy!

CBC 29: Michael Hovnanian interview part 2

This week we are continuing our conversation with Chicago Symphony Orchestra bassist Michael Hovnanian that we began on Episode 24 of the podcast. Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview.

You will also get a chance to hear Michael play selections from the Discordia Music edition of the Beethoven Sonata (Op. 17) for Double Bass and Piano Michael is performing from his own edition, which is available for purchase from Discordia Music, and you will get to hear the excellent vocal and bass music of Dinah D. Enjoy!

CBC 24: Michael Hovnanian interview

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with
double bassist Michael Hovnanian. Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog,
and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the
Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher
for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was
really great to get a chance to do this interview.

You will also get a chance to hear Michael play the Discordia Music
edition of the Brahms Sonata in E minor on this episode. It is a great
edition of a great piece, and Michael plays it beautifully. Enjoy!