Contrabass Conversations
life on the low end of the spectrum with Jason Heath
 
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 Contrabass Conversations Episode 5
Interview with Philip W. Serna Part 1
Release Date: 1/29/07
Show Length: 27:52

This show features an interview with double bassist Phillip W. Serna.  Phillip is an active double bass and viola da gamba performer, clinician, and pedagogue in the Chicago metropolitan area.  In this episode of Contrabass Conversations, Phillip discusses his early years studying the bass, his training in Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, and general student advice.  Visit him online at http://www.phillipwserna.com/

News & Notes:

One of my crazy gig stories was excerpted for an article in Double Bassist magazine.

Music played:

Music from Phillip Serna

Scott Worthington - Disrepresentation

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Direct download: CC_5.mp3
Category: Phillip Serna -- posted at: 8:48 AM
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Contrabass Conversations Episode 4
Interview with Andrew Anderson Part 1
Release Date: 1/22/07
Show Length: 31:51

website: http://contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
24 hour voicemail: 206-666-6509
visit the blog: http://doublebassblog.com

This episode features part 1 of an interview with double bassist Andrew Anderson.  Andy is a member of the double bass sections of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.  In this episode, Andy discusses his early training and college years studying the double bass.


Some listener feedback closes this episode of Contrabass Conversations.

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Direct download: CC_4.mp3
Category: Andy Anderson -- posted at: 9:50 AM
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CC #3 Show Notes

Contrabass Conversations Episode 3
release date: 1/15/07
show length: 28:58
Freelance Musician Tips and Great Tracks.

website: http://contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
24 hour voicemail: 206-666-6509
visit the blog: http://doublebassblog.com


Music played on this podcast is available from the Podsafe Music Network.  Check them out at http://music.podshow.com.

Jason starts this week's episode by playing Tu Cha Cha Cha by Antonin Bastian.  Check out Antonin's blog at http://dr-vibe.blogspot.com/.


Listener feedback from Ed in Sydney, Australia.

Jason discusses the January performance of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra.

Jason discusses the ins and outs of some aspects of the freelance music world.  The comments are geared toward classical double bass players, but the information may be of value to all instrumentalists.

The last track played on this episode is Spherical by saxophonist Evan Tate.  There is a great bass solo by Henning Sieverts on this track.  Check out Evan's website here.

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Direct download: CC_3.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 6:45 PM
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CC #2 Show Notes

Contrabass Conversations Episode 2 - Audition news and more.
release date: 1/8/07
show length: 27:43

Contact Information:

website: http://contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
24 hour voicemail: 206-666-6509
visit the blog: http://doublebassblog.com

In this episode of Contrabass Conversations, Jason discusses the gear he is using to record Contrabass Conversations.  For this episode he is using:

iRiver IFP-899
Sony ECM MS957   (the price has really dropped since I bought it six years ago!)

Last episode Jason use the same microphone into his laptop through a Griffin iMic .  The results are actually much cleaner into the iRiver than into the laptop.


Music played on this podcast:

Agnus Dei by double bassist Peter Lawson

This is an excerpt from a very interesting piece written by a very creative double bassist.  For more information on this and other works by Peter Lawson you can e-mail him at ptklawson@gmail.com.  Peter studied with Michael Hovnanian at Northwestern University (Michael now teaches at Roosevelt University) and with Rob Kassinger at DePaul University.  He is a great double bassist, a great composer, and an all-around great guy.

CORRECTION:
Although Peter plays with the Madison Symphony, he is not a member of this ensemble.  He won an audition in the past for this organization but had to turn the position down due to scheduling concerns, so although he does perform with this group, he is not a member.

Jason discusses several auditions coming up for the double bass.  Although there aren't many jobs this month, there are several summer festivals holding auditions:

North Carolina School of the Arts
Artist/Teacher of Bass beginning Fall 2007

National Repertory Orchestra
Audition tour in January and February
Festival runs from 6/10-8/5 in 2007

Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra Fellow - 2007-08 Season
deadline for tapes: 2/6/07

AIMS Festival Orchestra  in Graz, Austria
7/10-8/11 in 2007
Live auditions 2/25-3/31 in various North American cities
taped auditions acceptable

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
Audition for Bass 5
per-service position
for more information, e-mail hunter@hso.org

Kent/Blossom Chamber Music Festival
7/1-8/12 in 2007

Tanglewood Music Center
The Boston Symphony Orchestra's Academy for Advanced Musical Study
6/21-8/20 in 2007
apply online

New World Symphony
National Audition Tour January through March in 2007
apply online


Another great program always worth checking out is the Aspen Music Festival and School.  The best place to find current audition information is at musicalchairs.info.


My Odeo Channel (odeo/1ea6773b877e3541)

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Direct download: CC_2.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 8:28 PM
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show length: 10:38
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
voicemail: 206-666-6509

Hello, and welcome to Contrabass Conversations, your weekly podcast for double bass interviews, resources, news, and music.  Contrabass Conversations is a new project by Jason Heath.  You can find all information for this show at http://contrabassconversations.com.

This show will be released every Monday.  Most shows will be in an interview format, but these first few shows will be with Jason alone.  The show will not exceed 30 minutes in length.  I would rather have people wanting more Contrabass Conversations than begging for less!  When I am doing a show alone the length will be around 15-20 minutes, and when I have a guest, shows will be around 20-30 minutes in length.

Topics covered in these shows will include profiling specific excerpts, solos, and audition lists, double bass techniques and practice strategies, and general advice for pursuing developing one's ability on the bass and pursuing a professional career on the bass.

I already have some great guests lined up for this show, but I would like to interview YOU for this show!  People from all walks of life, from students and amateurs to professional performers and pedagogues all have valuable information to share, and I plan on interviewing representatives from all of these groups of people.

Link of the week:

http://talkbass.com

Talkbass is the best double bass and electric bass forum available online.  Please visit them, participate, and support them.  They are a great resource.  Paul Determan (founder of Talkbass) and I used to play in the South Dakota Symphony together.

For more double bass and general music information, visit my blog:

http://doublebassblog.com

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Direct download: CC_1.mp3
Category: general -- posted at: 1:31 PM
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