Interview Guests – Page 163

Exploring Chamber Music 2: Dvorak Serenade and Schubert String Quintet

Welcome to Exploring Chamber Music with Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians. This Contrabass Conversations special series highlights chamber music that includes the double bass. Learn more about the Chicago Chamber Musicians by visiting www.chicagochambermusic.org.

We’d like to extend special thanks to both Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians for making this series possible. Listen to all Exploring Chamber Music episodes here, and hear Brad Opland in a Contrabass Conversations interview here.

We will be featuring two pieces on the program today. The first is the Wind Serenade in D minor by Antonin Dvorak. This piece is scored for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 3 horns, cello, and bass. It was recorded live on April 23rd, 2007 by the Chicago Chamber Musicians for their 20th Anniversary Season Finale and features:

Michael Henoch and Alex Klein – oboe
Larry Combs and Julie DeRoche – clarinet
Dennis Michael and Lewis Kirk – bassoon
Gail Williams, Jeremiah Frederick, Gabrielle Webster – horn
Katinka Kleijn, cello
Brad Opland, bass

The second piece on our program today is the String Quintet in C Major by Franz Schubert. This piece was recorded live in 2004.

CBC 57: Jerry Fuller interviews Jason

Double bassist and early music specialist Jerry Fuller turns the tables and interviews Jason about his perspective on playing early music in this episode. Jerry Fuller recently launched ArsAntiguaPresents.com, a monthly podcast featuring performances of early music with Jerry and the Ars Antigua ensemble.

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.

CBC 54: Steve Reinfranck luthier chat

This week we bring you a conversation with Chicagoland double bass luthier, teacher, and performer Steve Reinfranck. Steve runs SMR Double Basses in Evanston, Illinois, writes regularly for Bass World (the publication of the International Society of Bassists), and operates a double bass teaching studio.

We also listen to a track from the Redd Holt Unlimited Quartet featuring Steve on bass, plus listener feedback, news and notes, a very fun holiday track from Jonathan Coulton, and much more. Enjoy!

CBC 53: Peter Seymour interview and music from Project

This week we feature the first half of an interview with double bassist Peter Seymour. Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at www.whatisproject.org and stay tuned for the conclusion of this interview in the next few weeks.

Although Peter has focused on obtaining a position in a major orchestra for many years, he is now focused on creating new creative outlets with Project, and his decision to strike out on his own with this great trio is an example of musical entrepreneurship at its finest. Be sure to pick up a copy of Winter in June, the new release from this killer trio. Enjoy!