Contrabass Conversations

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 ext...

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!

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 a...

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 regul...

We're wrapping up our interview with double bassist Peter Seymour this week on Contrabass Conversations. We began this interview on episode 53 , so be sure to check this episode out if you missed it! Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter...

This week we feature an interview with and music from the Chicago Bass Ensemble . Group founder Jacque Harper joins former Contrabass Conversations guests Michael Hovnanian and Doug Johnson plus double bass blogger John Floeter to create the core quartet of this ensemble. The Chicago Bass Ensemble will be performing at Northern Illinois University on February 14. Click here for more details, and l...

Contrabass Conversations regular contributor John Grillo and I recorded a follow-up episode to our recent Opera Excerpt Breakdown episode. In this episode we chat a little more generally about opera bass playing and how it differs from orchestral bass playing. John has played for numerous opera companies in the past, including the Pittsburgh Opera and Spoleto Festival die Due Mondi in Italy. He re...

his week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an in-depth analysis of the double bass opera excerpts most commonly requested at auditions. Double bassist (and regular Contrabass Conversations guest and co-host) John Grillo discusses each of these excerpts–stylistic considerations, differences in articulation and bow strokes, and suggestions for effectively learning them–and then performs th...

We're wrapping up our interview with author, corporate speaker, and double bassist Justin Locke today. Justin is the author of Real Men Don't Rehearse , a book filled with wonderful anecdotes about his life in the music business. Justin was a freelance double bassist in the Boston area for nearly two decades, working regularly during that time with the Boston Pops and other area ensembles. We bega...

This week's episode features an interview with and music from jazz bassist Lynn Seaton . Lynn teaches at the University of North Texas , and he maintains an active performing career. He was a member of the Woody Herman Band and Count Basie Orchestra, and he played extended tours with Tony Bennett and George Shearing, as well a wide array of many other jazz luminaries. We also feature music from th...

We're wrapping up the interview with Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Bassist Jeff Turner that we began on episode 26 of the podcast, plus featuring music from U.K.-based bassist Leon Bosch's new album titled The British Double Bass on this week's episode of the podcast. About Jeff Turner: Principal Bass Jeffrey Turner joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1987. He served as Principal Bass of t...

This Contrabass Conversations special series highlights chamber music that includes the double bass. 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 two pieces on the program today. T...

Jason chats about the state of affairs for Contrabass Conversations after one year of podcasting and future goals.

Double bassist and early music specialist Jerry Fuller turns the tables and interviews Jason Heath in this brief and fun episode.

We're speaking with Cincinnati Symphony principal bassist Owen Lee today on Contrabass Conversations. 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 . Find Owen Lee on Twitter here . Enjoy!  About Owen: Describe...

This week we bring you a conversation with Chicagoland double bass luthier, teacher, and performer Steve Reinfranck. Steve runs SMR Double Basses in Evanston, Illinois, writes regularly for Bass World (the publication of the International Society of Bassists), and operates a double bass teaching studio. We also listen to a track from the Redd Holt Unlimited Quartet featuring Steve on bass, plus li...

This week we feature the first half of an interview with double bassist Peter Seymour. Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at www.whatisproject.org a...

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with Suzuki Bass School pioneer, pedagogue, and teacher trainer Virginia Dixon.  Virginia shares her years of experience performing and teaching the double bass, highlights unique aspects of the Suzuki bass method, and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career as a double bass teacher. We also feature music from elect...

This Contrabass Conversations special series is made possible by the Chicago Chamber Musicians and Brad Opland. This episode features music for cello and bass by Haydn and Rossini performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians Brad Opland and Gary Stucka.  They perform the Haydn Divertimento in D Major and the Rossini Duetto on this installment.  This performance was recorded live in 2004. Expl...

This interview-only Contrabass Conversations episode features the conclusion of our interview with Indiana University double bass professor Lawrence Hurst, whom we interviewed on episodes 20 and 23 of the podcast. About Lawrence Hurst Lawrence Hurst is the former principal double bass for the Dallas Symphony. He is a former faculty member of Southern Methodist and Eastern Michigan Universities and...

This week, we bring listeners a very entertaining and interesting interview with Justin Locke , author of Real Men Don't Rehearse , a book filled with wonderful anecdotes about his life in the music business.  Justin was a freelance double bassist in the Boston area for nearly two decades, working regularly during that time with the Boston Pops and other area ensembles.  Learn more about Justin at...

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist Donovan Stokes.  We last spoke with Donovan on episode 40 of the show, discussing his early years on the instrument, his experiences attending various universities, and his former and current double basses.  This week, we continue our discussion about instruments and delve into Donovan's comp...

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist Brad Opland.  Last time we heard from Brad (on episode 37 ), we talked about his experiences in the Minnesota Orchestra and Chicago Symphony, plus some of the most memorable highlights from Brad's performing career.  This episode we discuss Brad's experiences performing with the Berlin Philha...

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist, music educator, and author Peter Tambroni.  Last time we heard from Peter (on episode 32 ), we talked about his early years on the bass, classroom and school orchestra teaching techniques, studying bass during  his bachelors and masters degrees, teaching approaches, performance experiences,...

This week's podcast concludes our interview with National Symphony Orchestra bassist Ira Gold. We began this interview on episode 15 of the podcast and continued it on episode 18 , as well as featuring Ira performing the Vanhal Concerto with orchestra. Ira discusses his double bass set-up and mental toughness aspects of the audition, practicing, and preparation process for the double bass during t...