Contrabass Conversations - double bass life on the low end of the spectrum

This special Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with composer Paul Ramsier.  Though Paul is particularly well-known for his collaborations with Gary Karr, he continues to remain quite active as a composer and has a number of interesting projects in the works. Throughout this interview, you will hear excerpts from Divertimento and Silent Movie, two of Paul’s most popular compositions.  These excerpts come from Paul’s recently released DVD titled Four Ramsier Favorites and featuring double bassist Jerome Butler on bass.  We also discuss Bass Tunes, Paul’s excellent volume of duets for young bassists and a book that I frequently use with my own students. Paul Ramsier (piano) and Jordan Butler (bass) performing live from "Four Ramsier Favorites" DVD Links to some of Paul’s online offerings: Paul’s website Four Ramsier Favorites DVD Bass Tunes Compositions for Virtuoso Double Bass CD (site features audio excerpts of these tracks) Lemur Music (search for Paul Ramsier – many titles available including music for Divertimento, Silent Movie, Three Lyric Pieces, Eusebius Revisited, Road to Hamelin, and Lullaby for Bass Quartet)

159: Paul Ramsier Interview

158: Charles DeRamus interview

We’re bringing you an interview with double bassist Charles DeRamus on Contrabass Conversations this week. Charles is a member of the Gothenburg Symphony and has worked extensively in both Europe and the United States during his professional career. Charles has recently written a children’s concert for double bass quartet and narrator called “Greta’s Dream” which has been performed at many venues in the United States and Sweden. This piece will be performed at the 2011 International Society of Bassists Convention in San Francisco, so be sure to check out their session if you can attend the convention. Following the interview, we feature two excerpts from a live performance of Greta’s Dream (right around the 57 minute point in the podcast if you want to jump right to them), and more information about this piece will be provided in the coming months. Be sure to check out the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Bass Quartet on Facebook–they’ve got a great page! About Charles: Charles DeRamus has a career that spans from North America to Scandinavia, where he is currently a member of the Gothenburg Symphony and has worked extensively with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Malmo? Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. In the United States he has performed, recorded and toured with the Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Virginia Symphony, and the Colorado Music Festival. His studies include degrees from Indiana University and Rice University, after which he was a member of the New World Symphony and participated in numerous summer festivals including Tanglewood, Schleswig-Holstein, National Repertory Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival, and the National Orchestral Institute. Equally at home in various musical venues, Charles has performed with the Houston Grand Opera, Atlanta Opera, Ohio Light Opera, NorrlandsOperan, Malmo? Opera, as well as the Dayton Bach Society, the contemporary ensemble “Black Box Band”, Sweden’s acclaimed new music ensemble Gageego, and the Persian/European influenced Rumi Ensemble. Recent solo engagements include a unique performance with the National Orchestra of Sweden for a concert celebrating newly naturalized Swedish citizens, as well as performances of Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango and Beethoven’s F Major Romance with the Eureka Symphony in the United States. Charles is a dedicated teacher and currently serves on the faculties of the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop and the Idyllwild Arts Summer Festival Programs. Previously he has served on the All-State at Interlochen and University of Michigan Summer Arts Institute faculties, as well as given masterclasses in Norway, Sweden, the United States, and at the Royal College of Music and Yehudi Menuhin School in England. As a composer/arranger, in the 2010/11 season Charles will celebrate the premier performances of “Greta’s Dream”, his newly written children’s concert for Double Bass Quartet and narrator. Following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, Charles is the third generation bassist in his family.

This week on Contrabass Conversations, we’re bringing you rare footage of Serge Koussevitzky performing a few selections. Enjoy this trip back in double bass history, brought to you by double bassist John Grillo. Previous Contrabass Conversations episodes featuring John Grillo include: Ed Barker interview The State of the Orchestra Differences in Opera and Orchestra Playing Opera Excerpt Breakdown Orchestral Excerpt Breakdown Owen Lee interview Max Dimoff interview Dan Krekeler interview Ranaan Meyer interview Lawrence Hurst interview Jack Budrow interview Barrie Kolstein interview John Grillo Recital Showcase John Grillo interview

157: Koussevitzky recordings

This week, we’re featuring the title track from the nth wave, the debut album from the Gunnelpumpers. Enjoy! Links: http://www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers buy CD on CDBaby listen to Chicago Bass Ensemble interview

156: Gunnelpumpers

155: Frederick Zimmermann Practice Tapes

We’re featuring practice tapes from the hugely influential double bass performer and pedagogue Frederick Zimmermann on this week’s Contrabass Conversations episode. Co-host John Grillo unearthed and transferred these tapes of Zimmermann practicing, and he and I briefly chat about how these tapes helped to shape John’s concept of sound on the double bass. Enjoy! About Frederick Zimmermann: Frederick Zimmermann was an American double bassist and teacher. He played in the New York Philharmonic from 1930-1966 serving as assistant-principal and principal and taught at the Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University. He is considered by many to be the most influential American double bass teacher of the 20th century.

double bass podcast

We’re featuring double bassist Leon Bosch performing selections from his latest album on this week’s Contrabass Conversations episode. Titled Virtuoso Double Bass Vol. 2, this album contains a dozen works, both familiar and less familiar, from Giovanni Bottesini. You can purchase this album (as well as Leon’s other albums) from Meridian Records here, and learn more about Leon at leonbosch.co.uk. Tracks performed: Nel cor piu non mi sento Final de la Somnanbule

153: Bottesini with Leon Bosch

double bass podcast

We’re featuring music from jazz and free improvisation bassist Barre Phillips on this week’s podcast episode, as well as bass news and updates. Enjoy!