Group 1 - Bach Beginners - Exploring Bach on Bass
Playing the Bach cello suites on the bass was, at one time, considered to be a virtuosic feat. These days, every performing bassist is expected to know at least a movement of Bach - at least in North America - where it has become standard material on most auditions.
In this Two-Week Intensive, Travis Harrison will guide you through a process for exploring Bach on the double bass using the Prelude to his second suite. Participants will be given a version of this Prelude in an ideal key (A minor, a fourth lower than the original), and the tools and instruction necessary to create your own interpretations of the music.
This is somewhat advanced repertoire, and so please start by checking you would be comfortable playing this piece - a PDF is supplied in the below. It requires the ability to play in thumb position, and read both bass and tenor clefs.
TWI 4 - Exploring Bach on Bass
How it works:
For this TWI, we will be organized into 2 groups depending on your comfort level with Bach:
Group 1: Bach Beginners - those whose first time it is playing Bach on the bass
Group 2: Bach Veterans - those who have already played Bach cello suites on the bass
Please sign up for the group you feel most comfortable playing in.
Timeline
- Sign-Up : February 10 - 16
- Course Period: February 18 - 28
- Optional check-In via Zoom: Monday February 24 1:00-2:00pm ET (Toronto/New York)
10 replies
-
Hope that everyone has been able to hit the ground running with this Bach TWI - anyone have a recording they've found and would like to share? Or comments about any of the ones I included in the PDF booklet?
Have a great time, and looking forward to seeing some progress videos and/or inspiration soon! -
Hello! So what I get from you is that although there must be Bach Scholars out there telling the WAY it must be played we can use on our own feelings to come up with an interpretation.
SO where I am is that I had started the piece in D before without completing much so that is why your challenge is interesting. I will write in my own bowings before sending anything and as mentioned before I will try to play like I would like to sing it. Hopefully with inspiration first and practice I will get something. Best! B
-
Also should be able to join the Zoom meeting today!
-
Hi all - your week 2 video is ready here: https://youtu.be/Cj5dY56pReU
Apologies for the delay - I had some thought-provoking interactions in the TWI check-in this afternoon, and decided to re-record this all to address some of those ideas. Hope you all enjoy it, and excited to see your progress videos towards the end of the week!
Cheers,
Travis
-
Just a friendly reminder to post your videos over the next couple days - I will review this weekend.
Hope you've all had a nice journey with this Bach, and keep it going into some more movements when you feel up for it!