The Bottesini Thread

[ubassman]

Thought I would just start a thread on Bottesini - the 'Paganini of the Double Bass' !

[ubassman]

Found this bit of background reading from Thomas Martin ( no less ! ) really fascinating so thought I would share http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/double-bass-home/bottesini?limitstart=0

[ubassman]

...and a link to some [url="http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Bottesini,_Giovanni"]free scores[/url] ( including the original [url="http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/d/de/IMSLP254239-PMLP412020-GBottesini_Contrabass_Method_BNE.pdf"]Grande Methode[/url] ) !

[ubassman]

...no introduction needed ...Rinat Ibragimov playing on a traditional 3 string .

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZ_-f7pVk4[/media]

Edited August 15, 2013 by ubassman

[MandShef]

Ooh, thank you! Just downloaded Reverie to have a go at! I'll bookmark that page too, so I can work my way through the others (I've already got the two Method books, which I think are great).

[fatgoogle]

His elegy was the first solo piece i tackled after Verdi's rigoletto. I don't think i'm ever going to have it perfect even for a piece that isn't to challenging.

Maybe we should together a list o the best bottesini recordings for learning purpose's. Tom martins Elegy defiantly stands out as one of the best.

Also anyone heard his opera??

[ubassman]

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1376572914' post='2176248']

Maybe we should together a list o the best bottesini recordings for learning purpose's. Tom martins Elegy defiantly stands out as one of the best.

[/quote]

Great idea !

[ubassman]

La Sonnambula ...gorgeous from the first note !!

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dzAcAYts7g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dzAcAYts7g[/url]

[ubassman]

The Elegy

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJLN43M-RGE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJLN43M-RGE[/url]

[fatgoogle]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVbCzwhWIMk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVbCzwhWIMk[/url]

This is the only youtube version of the rand duo done properly with two double bass's. Not very good quality though.

Rinat: With violin
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpcIfoujVP8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpcIfoujVP8[/url]

[ubassman]

...must be something quite extraordinary to have a wife who can play like that !

[Hector]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WMO0nJRWAM[/media]

Am I doing this right? I'm a jazz guy.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Hector

[ubassman]

[quote name='Hector' timestamp='1376582105' post='2176458']
Am I doing this right? I'm a jazz guy.
[/quote]

shhhh no one will notice ! ( ...not seen that version of the Gran Duetto - absolutely brilliant and stunningly good playing ! ...enjoyed that !! )

[MandShef]

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1376580686' post='2176417']
...must be something quite extraordinary to have a wife who can play like that !
[/quote]
Alina is Rinat's daughter - she's obviously inherited his musical talent.

I've found a vid of Reverie to add to the list:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7IwDEnEVk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7IwDEnEVk[/url]

[ubassman]

[quote name='MandShef' timestamp='1376596802' post='2176716']
Alina is Rinat's daughter - she's obviously inherited his musical talent.
[/quote]

oops! ( ....quickly thinking of a way to save face)

......still, notwithstanding that, ....must be something quite extraordinary to have a wife who can play like that !

[FLoydElgar]

Duncan my man! He's just top notch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2phOd3xp1kk

[fatgoogle]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnxFR-y2nQA[/media]

seems to be a very popular one to play. This ^ ones a bit messy.

Edited August 16, 2013 by fatgoogle

[ubassman]

The virtuoso stuff is all inspirational to listen to

Found this link to Mark Urness who has covered the first 21 exercises of Bottesini's Method books no 1 - heres no 18

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_uCBXZcU8s&feature=c4-overview&list=UUrPG-KiJer9VlMvG_SXpz_Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_uCBXZcU8s&feature=c4-overview&list=UUrPG-KiJer9VlMvG_SXpz_Q[/url]

Edited August 17, 2013 by ubassman

[ubassman]

Interestingly I play no18 very differently - starting in 3rd position rather than 1st !

[fatgoogle]

I play it in similar positions but with more dynamic difference. I think its important to turn exercises into pieces of music. Generally in a more Italian style of making the highest note the loudest. Considering as well his solo repertoire is quite operatic at times i feel you can also be a little bit free with the tempo. Not crazy but slow it down to build it back up.

[fatgoogle]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynkHKQONnqQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynkHKQONnqQ[/url]

Never heard of it before.

[ubassman]

...Id like to know who sweet talked Edicson Ruiz to play in the quintet !

[ubassman]

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1376741484' post='2178551']
I play it in similar positions but with more dynamic difference. I think its important to turn exercises into pieces of music. Generally in a more Italian style of making the highest note the loudest. Considering as well his solo repertoire is quite operatic at times i feel you can also be a little bit free with the tempo. Not crazy but slow it down to build it back up.
[/quote]

I started playing No18 in 1st but then thought I would try it in 3rd and came to the conclusion that whist 3rd gives you more complicated shifts it allows for vibrato and more colour . What I like is that it also then leaves a place to go with the dynamics and tone variation when the first bar theme comes back in later i.e. 2nd time round I give it a more edgy and emphatic 'Forte' feel with the open D . First time round its a bit more pensive.

Thats what I love about Bottesini - there's nearly always a set of 'money notes' in every exercise and they call out for a bit of lyrical interpretation !

[fatgoogle]

Gary Karr. Doing whatever it is he does.........

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuKYI12gVW4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuKYI12gVW4[/url]

Maybe a tad under rehearsed but brilliant and a sense of performance which not many soloists offer the audience these days. The accompanist is brilliant i think.

My favorite conductors that ive played under have always had a bit of showmanship which means the audience is also entertained while listening and i think this has led to the best performance's of the orchestra's ive played in.