Two, Three, or Four Basses
I went to a most unusual FREE concert last night on the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center, unusual not because it was free, but because the instruments were all double basses. My friend and Deborah’s and my coach Bill Vaughan played in all three of the works by Telemann, Podarowski, and Alm. You can actually see and hear the concert by clicking on February 3 “Play this performance.” Bill is the one with the least hair.
I learned that there is a free concert every day at 6:00 PM. This makes it possible for virtually anyone in the metropolitan area to hear good music at no cost. Tonight’s performers were all part of the National Symphony Orchestry. They played a duet, then a trio, and finally a bass quartet. In my mind, the quartet was by far the most interesting piece.
Who comes to such a free concert? I met two DC Bloggers there. Deborah and her husband were there. The rest of the audience consisted of a slice of DC society, from the old to the very young. A couple of babies had to be taken out so that the rest of us could hear without being distracted. What a perfect setting for introducing young children to classical music. At best, it captures their interest. At worst, they scream and you have to leave, but in either case, you haven’t spent a penny, except perhaps to park. Even at $15, the hour-long concert was quite a bargain.
After the concert, Deborah asked me if I still wanted to play with her after hearing this level of musicianship on the double bass. I had to just laugh because I would be a nervous wreck playing with people of that caliber. Deborah and I are so evenly matched in our attitude and our ability.
If you haven’t already discovered these concerts, go check them out!
On another note, take a look at The Bass Gang, an Italian double bass group that plays some really awesome music. I ordered one of their CDs and it was well worth the price. You would never believe it was all double basses.
I learned that there is a free concert every day at 6:00 PM. This makes it possible for virtually anyone in the metropolitan area to hear good music at no cost. Tonight’s performers were all part of the National Symphony Orchestry. They played a duet, then a trio, and finally a bass quartet. In my mind, the quartet was by far the most interesting piece.
Who comes to such a free concert? I met two DC Bloggers there. Deborah and her husband were there. The rest of the audience consisted of a slice of DC society, from the old to the very young. A couple of babies had to be taken out so that the rest of us could hear without being distracted. What a perfect setting for introducing young children to classical music. At best, it captures their interest. At worst, they scream and you have to leave, but in either case, you haven’t spent a penny, except perhaps to park. Even at $15, the hour-long concert was quite a bargain.
After the concert, Deborah asked me if I still wanted to play with her after hearing this level of musicianship on the double bass. I had to just laugh because I would be a nervous wreck playing with people of that caliber. Deborah and I are so evenly matched in our attitude and our ability.
If you haven’t already discovered these concerts, go check them out!
On another note, take a look at The Bass Gang, an Italian double bass group that plays some really awesome music. I ordered one of their CDs and it was well worth the price. You would never believe it was all double basses.
posted by Barbara at 8:22 AM
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