Double Bass Portraits - A Musical Exhibition

Image source: Amazon.com

Have you been searching for a recording to listen to? Here's recommending Jeff Bradetich's Double Bass Portraits: A Musical Exhibition.

Jeff Bradetich gave a masterclass and recital at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music on 16 and 17 Aug 2013 respectively. After having listened to him during the recital, I dare say that he is one of the performers of the double bass to listen out for. He is proclaimed by The New York Times as "the master of his instrument". He is regarding as one of the leading performers and teachers of the double bass in the United States today.

Double Bass Portraits: A Musical Exhibition is a recording that "paints a broad spectrum of tonal and emotional expressiveness on the double bass. Jeff Bradetich is possibly the first double bassist who introduced me to the soulful music of Bloch, and I was blown away to listen to more of Bloch's compositions. Listen to what is possible on the double bass. If you are familiar with Monti's well-known work, Czardas, for the violin, you will delighted to listen to a transcription of it being played by Jeff Bradetich on the double bass. I was simply awed by the virtuosity of the double bass.


In this album, you will be pleased to listen to the following works performed by Jeff Bradetich and accompanied by Judi Rockey Bradetich on the piano:

• Luigi Boccherini - Sonata in A major, Adagio (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Luigi Boccherini - Sonata in A major, Allegro (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Erest Bloch - Meditation hebraique (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Robert Schumann - Fantasiestucke, Op. 73 - Rasch und mit Feuer (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Bela Bartok - Romanian Folk Dances, Sz.56 (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Johannes Brahms - Sonatensatz, Op. posth
• Joseph Hadyn - Divertimento (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Gabriel Faure - Elegie (arranged for double bass and piano)
• Vittorio Monti - Czardas (arranged for double bass and piano)

To order your copy of Jeff Bradetich's Double Bass Portraits - A Musical Exhibition, please visit any of the following links (non-exhaustive):

• Amazon.com
• Lemur Music
• ClassicsOnline
• Naxos Music Library
• eBay

Jeff Bradetich's Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge

Source: Amazon.com

Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge by Jeff Bradetich is a treatise and a resource to help its reader find answers to necessary questions that will allow for the greatest possible achievements on the double bass.

The twelve chapters of the book discuss the following issues:
1. Physical Characteristics necessary for success in playing the double bass
2. Standing vs Sitting
3. The Right Hand
4. The Left Hand
5. Fingering Concepts
6. Shifting
7. Intonation
8. Bow Strokes
9. Harmonics
10. Vibrato
11. Pizzicato
12. Practicing

The book also contains a special pull out section of Technical Exercises. I have worked on the first nine pages of the Technical Exercises and have found the exercises to be very relevant in improving the common technical issues faced by double bassists.

If you are still undecided whether to get yourself a copy of this book, Orin O'Brien's review of Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge would possibly impress you enough to decisively do so. Here is her endorsement of this book:

"This is one of the most important books of the last fifty year. It should be in every university and conservatory library, every teacher of the double bass should read it, and double bassists of every level will find confirmation of their strengths and lots of answers for the questions."

If you would need to be further convinced , Thierry Barbe's endorsement of this book is equally positive:

"Students from all over the world and from every level, please, trust him! Take everything as your real basis for a well-founded technique! I personally, and totally, agree with the content."

I have bought myself a copy of this book recently and have started reading the first few chapters. The concepts are written in a clear fashion. The photographs and the musical examples that are found in the book aptly illustrate the concepts. I am very pleased with myself for getting a copy of Jeff Bradetich's Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge. I have found the keys to successful practice that was discussed in this book to be succinct and useful. My words of gratitude to Jeff Bradetich for writing the book.

Jeff Bradetich's Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge is available from the following sources (non-exhaustive):

• Lemur Music
• Amazon.com
• David Gage String Instruments

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Also see:
Jeff Bradetich's The Ultimate Challenge, by Ovation Press String Vision, 2 Jul 2011
Jeff Bradetich's new book (video) by Jason Heath, 25 Jun 2009
Jeff Bradetich

Voice and Double Bass 9 Oct 2013

On 9 Oct 2013, visit the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and allow the Conservatory students to present to you an hour of delightful music.

Voice and Double Bass
9 Oct 2013 (Wed)
12.15 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Orchestra Hall (Level 3)
Free admission

MELODIE TAN soprano
CHOI HYE-SEON piano

KIM KYUNGHYUN double bass
LOW SHAO SUAN piano




Please click on this to view source.

Conservatory Concerto Competition: Lower Strings Final

This annual concerto competition is back again. I do hope that there will be double bassists who will be selected to perform in the Lower Strings Finals. Good luck!

Conservatory Concerto Competition: Lower Strings Final
14 Oct 2013 (Mon)
7.30 p.m
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Concert Hall
Free admission

Bass on the Broadband

Image credit: Bass On The Broadband.

Are you aware that there is a radio station devoted to the art of the acoustic and electric bass?

I became aware of the world's first radio station devoted to the art of the acoustic and electric bass through Jeff Bradetich after his double bass masterclass at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore, on 16 Aug 2013.

Here is more about Bass On the Broadband:

It is a 24/7 internet radio devoted to the art of the acoustic and electric bass. A brain-child of Brian Bromberg, Grammy award-winning electric bassist, this internet radio station broadcasts music that showcases the bass and the bass player. It provides an outlet for bassists throughout the world to have their music and playing heard by an audience that appreciates the bass.

For the fans of classical bass, you will be pleased to learn that in Nov 2012, the Bradetich Foundation joined forces with Bass On the Broadband to produce weekly internet radio broadcasts featuring the classical bass. The Bradetich Foundation Classical Bass Showcase that will feature the classical bass in its programming will be aired via Bass On the Broadband on Sundays from 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. Pacific Time (i.e. Sundays 9 p.m. - 12 midnight during daylight saving time/ 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. in Singapore during Standard Time.)

Details of the podcasts and playlists that has been aired on Bass On the Broadband under the weekly feature, The Bradetich Foundation Classical Bass Showcase, is available on http://www.bradetichfoundation.org

Please listen the Bass On the Broadband, and pass the word around.

Jeff Bradetich in Singapore, August 2013

Image source: Music.Virginia.edu

It is with great pleasure that I share this news of Jeff Bradetich giving a double bass recital in Singapore on 17 Aug 2013 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Orchestra Hall. In addition, he will be giving a double bass masterclass on the 16 Aug 2013.

Jeff Bradetich is regarded as one of the leading performers and teachers of the double bass in the US today. New York Times proclaimed him as "the master of his instrument". He has won many major solo competitions and has been featured on radio and television throughout North and South America, and Europe including CBS, CNN, BBC, CBC, NPR.

Thanks to the generosity of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, admission to both Jeff Bradetich's Masterclass and his double bass recital at the Conservatory Orchestra Hall will be free. Make yourself free please.

Here are the details:

Jeff Bradetich Double Bass Masterclass
16 Aug 2013 (Fri)
3.00 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music,
Conservatory Orchestra Hall (Level 3)
Free admission.

Jeff Bradetich Double Bass Recital
17 Aug 2013 (Sat)
7.30 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music,
Conservatory Orchestra Hall (Level 3)
Free admission.


Sources:
http://music.nus.edu.sg/event_details.html?EventID=1272&Year=YearFilter=2013&TypeFilter=&MonthFilter=8
http://music.nus.edu.sg/event_details.html?EventID=1273&Year=YearFilter=2013&TypeFilter=&MonthFilter=8

An offer to help find a home for 'unwanted' double bass

Photo courtesy of SJ.

Let your unwanted double bass be transformed into a treasure in the eyes of an aspiring double bassist!

A few days ago, STOMPer, SJ, saw music instruments being disposed of outside Victoria School. This was reported in The Straits Times Stomp. The title of the article is "School throws away music instruments - even those that look new".

There are people who would love to adopt a double bass and use it wisely. If you happen to have a double bass in Singapore that you would like to dispose of, these are the possible free local platforms that you can post your intent on and find a new home for your instrument:
Gumtree Singapore (my preferred choice)
Craiglist Singapore

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In addition, here is a humble service provided by d'Bassists that will be available for a trial period of a year, till Jul 2014 three months, till end Oct 2013:

If you prefer to give away your double bass for free, please contact d'Bassists and select "Donate a Double Bass" under "What's Up?" and provide your contact details. We will respond to your offer accordingly and put up a post to notify the list of interested parties who are keen to adopt a double bass. The interested parties shall follow up with you.

For anyone who is keen to adopt a double bass and give it a second life, please also contact d'Bassists and select "Adopt a Double Bass" under "What's Up?". Please indicate your full contact details and your wish to adopt a double bass. We will add your name to a database. When there is a donor, you will be contacted via email.