Bass Line 2013

It must have been due to popular demand that there are two Bass Line concerts organised by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music this year. Listen and you will be enlightened how melodious this instrument is. Please find below information on the second Bass Line concert for this year. Performed by students of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

Bass Line
2 Nov 2013 (Sat)
7.30 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Orchestra Hall (3rd level)
Free admission

Double Bass and Violin 13 Nov 2013

If you are near the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music on 13 Nov 2013, delight yourself with music for the soul. Conservatory students shall present an hour of delightful music during the lunch-hour.

Double Bass and Violin
13 Nov 2013 (Wed)
12.15 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Orchestra Hall (3rd level)
Free admission

My Symphonic Hall's transport solution for the double bass players

A double bass flight case fits nicely in one of My Symphonic Hall's vehicles.
Photo courtesy of My Symphonic Hall.

Photo courtesy of My Symphonic Hall.

Dear double bass players in Singapore, I have recently found a reliable and fairly affordable solution to transport double basses. 

My Symphonic Hall has various solutions available for musicians who need help to move and transport musical instruments. Recently, I have used the transport services from My Symphonic Hall on various occasions and it has been reliable thus far. 

My Symphonic Hall's official car.
Photo courtesy of My Symphonic Hall.

My Symphonic Hall has a vehicle (a Honda Crossroad) which is big enough to fit a double bass flight case and a double bass player in the front passenger's seat! This vehicle is also good for transporting at least two double basses.

I used to have to transport a double bass flight case using a 8-seaters Maxi-cab. The transport solutions offered by My Symphonic Hall is comparatively more affordable than if I were to use a Maxi-cab. More importantly, the people at My Symphonic Hall takes pride in handling our musical instruments with care because they love music and the arts.

Admittedly, if I need to transport only one double bass, it would usually be cheaper to hire a regular taxi. The only thing is if I were to use a regular taxi, I have to take some time to manoeuvre my double bass to fit it into a regular taxi.

I learnt from My Symphonic Hall's website and Facebook Page that My Symphonic Hall also provides transport solutions to move music instruments such as bass drums, timpani, harps and more. 

A harp fits in perfectly!
Photo courtesy of My Symphonic Hall.

Like every other transport services (e.g. taxi), it helps that you could remember the following suggestions as well when you are using My Symphonic Hall's transport services:

1) Please call and make enquiries/ reservations as early as possible.

2) State your starting point and destination clearly.

3) Be punctual to meet at the agreed starting point once your reservation is confirmed.

My Symphonic Hall also offers a 14-footer vehicle as one of the transport solutions.
Photo courtesy of My Symphonic Hall.

My Symphonic Hall

http://www.mysymphonichall.com

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

***
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