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:
- Jacque Harper – www.chicagobassensemble.com
- Michael Hovnanian – www.csobassblog.blogspot.com
- John Floeter – www.johnfloeterbassstudio.blogspot.com
- Douglas Johnson – www.myspace.com/douglasjohnson
- Gunnelpumpers (featuring Michael and Doug) – www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
- Gunnelpumpers on Contrabass Conversations
- Michael on Contrabass Conversations
Enjoy!
Was curious to hear the bass ensemble, which is a very fine group. One comment after listening to the interview – they REALLY need to be much more rigorous when dealing with vocal Renaissance music like the Orlando de Lassus. Without having a respect for the vocal articulation of the text of the piece (yes, they said they didn’t have the text, but that is no excuse not to research the actual original piece). Because of this, they completely missed the point of the work and how the syntax of phrasing works – but that is the humble opinion of this writer. Nonetheless, the Chicago Bass Ensemble has done a fabulous job in the interview and recordings that were featured.