Week 34 of year 2007 on the double bass

19 Aug 2007, Sun: In the evening, I spent about half-an-hour practising the Rondo movement of Keyper's Romance and Rondo at a slow tempo.

22 Aug 2007, Wed: During the strings sectionals and the orchestra rehearsal, I played C. H. Gounod's Faust and selected passages from G. Bizet's Carmen Suite No.1 and Carmen Suite No. 2. I quite like C. H. Gounod's Faust.

23 Aug 2007, Thu: For the double bass lesson, I played through and worked on Keyper's Romance and Rondo and Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro. My tutor allowed to try a particular brand of rosin, and I was amazed how warm and the loud the double bass sounded after playing with a bow wiped with that rosin.

During the lesson, my tutor asked me the question of what kind of bow was likely to be used during Keyper's time. That reminds me to spend more time reading on the history of the double bass.

24 Aug 2007, Fri: At night, some time after I have returned home, I spent some time playing selected passages from the first movement of Keyper's Romance and Rondo and the first movement of Marcello's Sonata in G major from memory.

I also played Marcello's Sonata in e minor and sight-read J.S. Bach's Bourree (from the 3rd Cello Suite. Bach's music is admittedly very challenging to play.

25 Aug 2007, Sat: Many thanks to my dear friend, J, for taking time to practise with me in preparation for the Diploma in Music Performance, in double bass. I think she is a good piano accompanist and she definitely has been most patient with me.

For the day, we managed to accomplish quite a bit. We rehearsed Keyper's Romance and Rondo, part of Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro, Faure's Sicilienne and Marcello's Sonata in G major. I realised that I still have to work on quite a number of areas so as to bring out the music. Most important, I must be steady in keeping time.

My double bass did not sound nasal like it had been last weekend. J and I figured that it was probably because of the weather last weekend that had contributed to the nasal sound. I suppose my double bass is a pretty sensitive instrument.

I can't help it but to say thanks again to J for her pointers and most appreciated help in the accompaniment. Making music is fun. Now, I need to learn to lighten up a bit more.