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Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

CBC 72: Barrie Kolstein interview 2

We’re wrapping up our chat with Barrie Kolstein this week on the Contrabass Conversations show. We began this interview on episode 70 of the program, and in it we discussed Barrie’s father Samuel Kolstein and how he got into the bow making business, the progression into the bass making business, and the development of the Kolstein line of products (including rosin, stings, and cases) that bassists worldwide use today.

Barrie discusses Kolstein rosin, challenges facing modern double bass retailers and luthiers, advice on buying a double bass, and how the business has changed in the past few decades. Visit the Kolstein shop online at www.kolstein.com.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/contrabassconversations/CBC_72.mp3

CBC 63: Chatting About Opera and Orchestra Bass Playing with John Grillo

Contrabass Conversations regular contributor and classicalmusicnews.tv blogger John Grillo and I recorded a follow-up episode to our recent Opera Excerpt Breakdown episode. In this episode we chat a little more generally about opera bass playing and how it differs from orchestral bass playing.

John has played for numerous opera companies in the past, including the Pittsburgh Opera and Spoleto Festival die Due Mondi in Italy. He recently performed Wagner’s Ring Cycle as the only bass player (!). Learn more about John on his Contrabass Conversations page, check out his virtual recital, listen to the Opera Excerpt and Orchestra Excerpt breakdowns, and be sure to visit his blog at classicalmusicnews.tv.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/contrabassconversations/CBC_63.mp3

CBC 62: Opera Excerpt Breakdown with John Grillo

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an in-depth analysis of the double bass opera excerpts most commonly requested at auditions. Double bassist (and regular Contrabass Conversations guest and co-host) John Grillo discusses each of these excerpts–stylistic considerations, differences in articulation and bow strokes, and suggestions for effectively learning them–and then performs them. We believe that this project will be a highly valuable resource for bassists worldwide, and we’d love your feedback on this project!

John and I created an excerpt breakdown for the most commonly requested orchestra excerpts back on CBC 41, and this has proven to be a highly popular and extremely useful resource to double bassists worldwide. Our hope is that this opera excerpt episode will do the same for the less familiar but wonderfully challenging double bass operatic literature.

Learn more about John at his new blog ClassicalMusicNews.tv, and check out all of his older Contrabass Conversations appearances here. You can also check out John in recital on his doublebassblog.org recital page.

Opera excerpts covered on this episode:

  • Strauss
    • Salome
    • Rosenkavalier
  • Wagner
    • Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
    • Die Walküre
  • Britten
    • Peter Grimes
  • Verdi
    • Otello
    • Rigoletto
    • Falstaff
  • Weber
    • Euryanthe
  • Mozart
    • Magic Flute
    • Marriage of Figaro
  • Beethoven
    • Fidelo
  • Humperdinck
    • Hansel and Gretel
http://traffic.libsyn.com/contrabassconversations/CBC_62.mp3

CBC 55: Owen Lee interview and music

We’re chatting with Cincinnati Symphony principal bassist Owen Lee today on Contrabass Conversations. Owen played for the New World Symphony and the Houston Symphony prior to his appointment with the Cincinnati Symphony, and it was a real pleasure to do this interview along with Contrabass Conversations regular collaborator John Grillo.

John, Owen, and I chat about Owen’s early years on the bass, his experiences working with Ed Barker, Jakstadt double basses, and perspectives from the bass section and a principal position. We also feature music the first movement from the Misek Sonata No. 2 and the Gigue from the Cello Suite No. 3 by Johann Sebastian Bach from Owen’s Boston Records CD, plus Facebook group shout-outs, listener feedback, bass news, and a link of the week.

Continue Reading …

http://traffic.libsyn.com/contrabassconversations/CBC_55.mp3

CBC 51: Lawrence Hurst interview part 3

This interview-only Contrabass Conversations episode features the conclusion of our interview with Indiana University double bass professor Lawrence Hurst, whom we interviewed on episodes 20 and 23 of the podcast.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/contrabassconversations/CBC_51.mp3
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