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

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.

Where to get good Bow Rehair Services and Handmade Bows?

A week ago, I realized that my double bass bow is in need of a bow rehair. I contacted one of my favourite Luthiers, and learnt that he is currently based overseas. Subsequently, he referred me to contact Bowmaker, Mr Paul S.J. Goh.

Source: http://www.singaporeviolinbow.com/

I contacted Mr Paul Goh, and subsequently sent my double bass bow to him for rehair. I am very pleased with the bow rehair. The charge for the service was reasonable too.

Mr Paul Goh is Singapore's first and only bow-maker! Through a brief conversation with Paul and a visit to his website, I learnt that he provides expert repairs, restoration and re-hairs of bows for stringed instruments. Coincidentally, I know of a friend who had just requested Paul to make a violin bow for him!

This is one resource for players of stringed instruments in Singapore to know of. For more information, please visit: http://singaporeviolinbow.blogspot.sg

Jeff Bradetich’s new book (video)

Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog's post titled Jeff Bradetich's new book (video) pointed me to a new book by University of North Texas and Cleveland Institute of Music bass professor, Jeff Bradetich, titled Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge.

"This book represents the culmination of all the concepts and techniques Jeff has explored while working with countless students over the course of his illustrious teaching career."

To find out more, please read: Jeff Bradetich's new book (video)

Hans Strum teaches the Rabbath technique

Double bass players may be interested to learn about the Rabbath left hand position technique. How does it differ from the Simandl's technique?

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm shares about the concepts behind the Rabbath technique in a multi-part video series on Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog and Contrabass Conversations.

Here are the links to this series:

Hans Sturm and Jason Heath talk Rabbath technique - video
Hans Sturm teaches the Rabbath technique - part 2
Hans Sturm teaches the Rabbath technique - part 3
Applying the Rabbath technique to Bottesini - Hans Sturm video part 4
General mental approaches to practicing the double bass - Hans Sturm video part 5