Next Level Bassist Musicality Issue
Articles by Sarah Hogan and John Patitucci, Spotlight on the Pittsburgh Symphony, Double Stop Strum by Ranaan Meyer
Articles by Sarah Hogan and John Patitucci, Spotlight on the Pittsburgh Symphony, Double Stop Strum by Ranaan Meyer
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is essential that each player feel he or she is<br />
making an audible and meaningful musical<br />
contribution.” As John Moore puts it, “players<br />
will bring something out and the others will<br />
catch on and follow. There is almost never any<br />
discussion.” The excitement that comes from<br />
this spontaneous music making underscores<br />
the trust and confidence that runs through<br />
each member. As part of a profession where<br />
people may sit next to the same person for 30<br />
years, it’s remarkable to know that colleagues<br />
can still bring inspiration to the workplace<br />
every day.<br />
In an era of increasing financial difficulties<br />
and uncertainty in the nation’s orchestras,<br />
the Pittsburgh section remains excited and<br />
enthusiastic. According to Jennifer Godfrey, a<br />
frequent section guest, “each time I sub here,<br />
I wonder if I’ll be fired for smiling too much<br />
during rehearsals.” It’s this attitude of “professional<br />
playfulness” that gives each member a<br />
sense of ownership and pride. In professional<br />
music settings, it’s easy to feel like your voice<br />
isn’t being heard - in fact, in some groups this<br />
is almost the goal of the ensemble. Not so in<br />
Pittsburgh, according to Micah Howard: “We<br />
all give 100%. We have great respect for each<br />
other. We share ideas and grow musically<br />
together.” In fact, this was a response received<br />
from every member of the bass section, where<br />
collaboration far outranks ego.<br />
Speaking of Mahler, nearly every member of<br />
the bass section reported that their favorite<br />
repertoire to play was the big romantic works<br />
of Mahler and his contemporaries. Sure, it’s<br />
little surprise that musicians are attached to<br />
and affected by the emotional outpouring and<br />
total immersion of this composer, but it boils<br />
down to the musical philosophy of the bass<br />
section as described by Jennifer Godfrey:<br />
“To (F-ing) Rock It!” ■<br />
Selected viewing<br />
Complete performance of<br />
Mahler 5 with the Pittsburgh<br />
Symphony and Manfred Honeck<br />
at the Berlin Philharmonie<br />
(Great bass soli shot at 12:34!)<br />
http://www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=Rv6gKituIfY<br />
Mahler 2, Movement 1<br />
conducted by Sir Gilbert Levine<br />
(with an absolutely riveting opening<br />
passage by the bass section)<br />
http://www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=6C1htRMKtlQ<br />
Ein Heldenleben conducted<br />
by Manfred Honeck at the<br />
Berlin Philharmonie<br />
(the work begins at 23 minute mark)<br />
http://www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=yyeR-gPakWo<br />
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6 NOV/DEC 2013 NEXT LEVEL BASSIST