Northwestern

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 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!