Author Topic: Twin Cities Bass Camp (Read 445 times)

fmm · « **on:** June 29, 2015, 06:52:49 PM »

Pictures from the Twin Cities Bass Camp, including Francois Rabbath:

sonicus · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2015, 07:07:27 PM »

I love it !

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2015, 08:15:58 PM »

From what I see in these pics French rather then German Arco technique is being taught. Is this correct ?

Wolf

fmm · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2015, 08:42:52 PM »

I hadn't noticed. I believe both kinds of bows are in play.
These are pictures of the Bass Orchestra and Rabbath master class.

The age range for the camp is about 8 to over 70.

I'm volunteering (helping herd students, tech support for the concerts, and writing a new registration database system).

It's all double basses, so I brought in my Stagg EUB (popular with the campers), my Ashbory (especially popular with the younger students) and my Series I (popular with the teachers).

terryc · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2015, 04:43:22 AM »

Being a complete ignoramous to double bass I thought you just dragged the bow thing across the strings and it made a sound. French or German ?? I wouldn't know one from the other !!!

pauldo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2015, 05:32:23 AM »

French and German are two different ways of holding the bow.

Here is a 'bassic' explanation:
The German bow has a large frog (holding place) and essentially you hold it with your palm pointing towards the tip of the bow. The French bow has a smaller frog and is held in away that your palm is pointed towards the instrument.

That looks like an awesome camp!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2015, 06:32:50 AM »

I'm with you on that Terry, and Pauldo's explanation doesn't make anything clear to me. I just thought one you held the bow with your palm facing the floor and the other was something else. :-)
I checked on you tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl1ULlWplqs

fmm · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2015, 07:44:49 AM »

I will post pics later, but 70 basses playing at once is AWESOME.

fmm · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2015, 07:45:12 AM »

I will post pics later, but 70 basses playing at once is AWESOME.

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2015, 04:29:39 AM »

Does holding the bow make such a difference..looks a bit of 'classical snobbishness' if you see what I mean.
I don't think Jimmy Page cared when he dragged it across his Les Paul on 'Whole Lotta Love' from Led Zep II !!

pauldo · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2015, 06:01:28 AM »

The physical construction of the bows are different.
My upright came with a French bow, that is what I use, the German style seems to be a more ergonomically correct position. Some day I will buy a German bow.

Now is not the time . . . just bought a 33 acre farm.

sonicus · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2015, 06:39:33 AM »

Terry ,LOL ! A Bass player might have to bow for hours at a time!

Paul ,I have had the same experience as you did and learned with a French Bow . Later I was approached by a teacher who mentioned that I would do better with a German bow because he observed my struggles with fatigue with my French Bow. He actually said that for me it would be a good idea from an ergonomic aspect for me to give the German Bow a try.I was never very happy with my Arco sound , I needed to do lots of work on that. To make Arco/Bowing sound good takes lots and lots of work. I love that sound when I hear someone do it who has put in the work .

Paul , congratulations regarding that Farm !

Wolf

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2015, 07:16:03 AM »

In my experience, bowing an upright bass is one of the most physically demanding musical endeavors yet. If I don't practice with a bow at least a couple hours a week, I quickly lose the muscle memory and stamina required to make anything other than whale songs. After trying both French and German, I landed on French style, but with what was described as an odd grasp. Kinda' matches the rest of my poor technique... =)

sonicus · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2015, 07:39:06 AM »

Very Physically demanding indeed ; like carrying buckets of cementitious mortar while having to sound wonderful . My arco technique was indeed poor ! Some day I will get another Double Bass and try it again, I sold mine about 6 or so years ago after owning it for about 20 years. Mine was a Bass that I acquired broken in pieces . I had to repair and reattach the neck and repair a large hole on its side. It actually ended up all playing and looking good. I have some 35 mm pictures of that project that I still need to scan to .jpg

fmm · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2015, 05:53:32 AM »

Some more pics: Bass Orchestra:

One of the Campers with my Alembic: