The Bass Geek

Was it great hearing a mass bass ensemble rendition of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” Saturday during Bass Day? Indeed it was. Twenty or so double basses working out the parts took some effort, but it turned out pretty good. It was also nice to hear electric bass brought up during one of the master classes and not be immediately dismissed or denigrated. In fact, the clinician used it as an example of the kind of tone she wanted to hear from another part of her piece. It’s a far cry from when I carried a double bass (which I was thoroughly wretched at, by the way) down the hall of a music school and was congratulated for finally playing a “real” instrument. Make no mistake, this day was dedicated to orchestral upright bass players, but the inclusion was still a nice touch. Plus, what I heard was probably nothing compared to the guy who made the viol de gamba presentation.