Podcast – Page 204

Exploring Chamber Music 3: Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D Major

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 the Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D Major on today’s program. This work was recorded on March 26, 2006 at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. A performer roster and biographical information about the musicians is available here.

CBC 69: Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand interview

We’re chatting with double bass luthier and Heartland String Bass Shop owner Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand today on the Contrabass Conversations podcast. Chris formerly worked at Robertson and Sons Violins before starting his own shop, and he makes extensions and does repair work in addition to crafting his own unique instruments.

It was a real pleasure to sit down and chat with Chris. I own a low B extension on my Jakstadt bass that Chris crafted, and it is a really excellent piece of hardware. I’ve also enjoyed playing on his various double basses, and I’ll be excited to see how he continues to push the boundaries of instrument making and come up with new and innovative ways of crafting double basses.

We’re also featuring a track from University of Iowa bass professor Volkan Orhon performed on one of Chris’ instruments. Check out the photos below for samples of Chris’ work. More photos, plus detailed information about the Heartland String Bass Shop and contact information for Chris can be found at www.heartlandsbs.com. Enjoy!

CBC 68: Owen Lee interview part 3

This is an interview-only Contrabass Conversations episode concluding our chat with Cincinnati Symphony Principal Bassist Owen Lee. We chat about practicing, summer festivals, recording yourself when preparing for auditions, and much more. To hear the first two segments of this interview plus several musical selections featuring Owen, check out episodes 55 and 66 of the show. Enjoy!

CBC 67: Anthony Stoops interview

Text transcript available!

We’re chatting with double bassist Anthony Stoops today on Contrabass Conversations. Anthony is the Artist/Teacher of Bass and String Area Chair at the University of Oklahoma School of Music. He also won first prize in the International Society of Bassists international solo competition and is the past recipient of a Karr Foundation double bass. Learn more about Anthony by visiting his website at anthonystoops.com.

We’re also featuring Anthony performing the Pieces en Concert by Couperin, plus some listener feedback, bass news, and shout-outs to some of our Facebook group members. Enjoy!

CBC 66: Owen Lee interview and music 2

We’re continuing our chat with Cincinnati Symphony principal bassist Owen Lee today on Contrabass Conversations. Check out the first segment of this conversation on episode 55 of the program. 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 experiences recording his solo CD, key selection for the Bach Suites and his use of solo tuning for the recording, his performances of the less popular but extremely engaging Bottesini Concerto No. 1, performing the Tubin Concerto with orchestra, the Harbison Bass Concerto project (which Owen performed with the Cincinnati Symphony), and his practicing habits and exercises.

We also feature the first movement from the Cello Suite No. 5 by Johann Sebastian Bach from Owen’s Boston Records CD, plus listener feedback, bass news, and a link of the week.

Learn more about Owen at www.myspace.com/owenleedoublebass. Enjoy!