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PASSAGES
Philip H. Albright, ISB member and professor emeritus of double bass at Ball State University, died November 30, 2010. He was 83 years old. Phil graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1949. He later earned a Master's degree from Washington University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Eastman. From 1949 to 1958 he played in the National Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony. In 1959 he joined the faculty of Ball State Teacher's College (later Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana. For 41 years, he played with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, a summer chamber orchestra in Lake Placid, NY. The Adirondack Mountains were his second home and after retiring from Ball State in 1992, he moved to Lake Placid where he was a well-loved member of the community. During more than 33 years of teaching "Doc Albright" or "Dr. Pha," as he was known by his students, influenced the careers of many musicians who now perform in symphony orchestras and teach at schools, colleges and universities across the country. Memorial donations can be made to the Philip Albright Chair for Double Bass, c/o The Lake Placid Sinfonietta, PO Box 1303, Lake Placid, NY 12946.
As reported on the "All about Jazz" website by Doug Payne, after a long struggle with liver disease, jazz bassist Charles Fambrough passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2011. He had been awaiting an organ transplant match. He was born on August 25, 1950, and studied classical piano throughout his elementary and high-school years. He began playing the bass at age of 13, attempting to imitate Paul Chambers, the first jazz bassist he ever heard. He was well know for his stints with legendary pianist McCoy Tyner and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He made a number of critically acclaimed albums as a leader.
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ON SALE NOW!
Order print music, CDs, DVDs and videos, convention t-shirts, posters, back issues of magazines and more at the www.ISBstore.com.
Check out recent additions to the ISB Online Store! CDs, print music, books and more for sale by Jay Leonhart, Bass Instinct, Scott LaFaro, Bad Boyz of Double Bass, Paul Unger, Terry Plumeri, Whitney Moulton, The American String Project, Chester Biscardi, Jeremy Kurtz, Lynn Seaton, Arni Egilsson, Robert Meyer, Diana Gannett, Jon Hamar, Peter Kowald, Richard Wilson, Murray Grodner, L'Orchestre de Contrabasses, Jean-Philippe Viret, Arni Egilsson, Jim Ferguson, Donovan Stokes, Mark Morton, Paul Erhard and Atmic Vision, Kristin Korb, David Murray, Peter Kowald, Volkan Orhon, Leon Bosch, Peter Dominguez, Robert Oppelt, Francesco Fraioli, Jon Hamar, Zbigniew Borowicz, Peter Askim, Tom Knific, John Harbison, Ben Taylor, Yoan Goilav, Randall Kertz, Sher Music, Stefano Sciascia, Buell Neidlinger, Bruce Gertz, Tuomo Haapala, Adrian Mann, Rufus Reid, Thomas Martin, Hans Sturm, Mark Urness, J.C. Jones, Joelle Leandre, Mark Dresser, Bert Turetzky, Barre Phillips, Paul Ramsier, John Dahlstrand, Ben Taylor, Thomas Gale, Terry Plumeri and The Gary Karr Store! New additions arriving every month!
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News of Note
It hardly seems possible, but bassist, composer, collaborator and touchstone of the new music movement Joelle Leandre turns sixty this year. To celebrate, there are plans in her native France for 60 concerts for 60 years to celebrate her remarkable career so far.
Tarisio Auctions has launched a $10,000 string instrument grant designed to help young musicians at the start of their careers. The Tarisio Matching Grant Program awards up to $10,000 of matching funds towards the purchase of a string instrument or bow in one of Tarisio's fine auctions. It is open to players aged under 30 who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from a music performance degree program. The winner is drawn at random two weeks before the auction. There are four auctions per year, two in London and two in New York. Application deadline for the upcoming March 2011 auction in London is February 24th. Application deadline for the May 2011 auction in New York is April 22nd. For more information and to apply, go to http://tarisio.com/pages/about/grantinfo.php.
eyeJAZZ, the Jazz Journalists Association's initiative to launch a new form of visual reportage about live music, is seeking applicants for its video training program. Selected applicants will receive a free pocket video camera and four months of online training in the basics of shooting, editing and distribution of video as well as video story-telling and journalistic skills. No previous experience in video production or jazz journalism is necessary, but applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in both. Applications are due by February 15th; for details visit www.eyeJAZZ.tv and click "Apply Now."
In the early classical period the most important composers in Europe wrote approximately 26 concertos for the Viennese bass. The repertoire of this five-stringed fretted bass includes chamber music, a concert aria by W.A. Mozart, and orchestral solos by Josef Haydn. The majority of this music was written in the short period from 1764-1791. What exactly was this instrument? Where did it come from and why was its renaissance so brief? Bret Simner will be in the U.S. giving a series of lecture-recitals, some with master-class, on the history of the Viennese bass. "An Introduction to the Viennese Violone" will examine the rise and fall of the instrument through its tuning, construction, repertoire, virtuosi and more: February 23rd, 6:30 PM, The Juilliard School; February 24th, 5-8 PM, Hartt School of Music; February 28th, 2:30-4:30 PM, Peabody Conservatory; March 1st, 10 AM - 12 PM, Curtis Institute of Music; March 3rd, 5 PM, Yale University School of Music; March 7th, 12:20 PM, University of Massachusetts in Amherst; March 16th, 5 PM, New England Conservatory.
 | | Bassiona Amorosa in front of Carnegie Hall |
The popular double bass ensemble Bassiona Amorosa performed for an enthusiastic audience on Carnegie Hall's Perelman Stage this past October. Founded in 1996 by Klaus Trumpf, the group has given more than 500 concerts in Europe, Asia and the U.S. The lineup for the Carnegie Hall concert included Roman Patkoló, co-principal bass with the Zürich Opera Orchestra, Andrew Lee, a prizewinner in the Simandl and Koussevitzky double bass competitions, Ljubinko Lazie, principal bass with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Belgrad, Serbia, Jan Jirmasek, co-principal bass with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic, Giorgi Makhoshvili, an in-demand freelance bassist from Munich, Germany, and Min Jea Soung, first prize winner of the Sperger and Koussevitzky competitions. Bassiona Amorosa extends heartfelt thanks to David Gage String Instruments for making instruments available for the Carnegie Hall Concert.
 | | 2011 Sperger Competition Prizewinners |
The 6th International Johann-Matthias Sperger Double Bass Competition took place in Castle Namedy near Andernach, Germany in September. Thirty-six contestants from South Korea, Romania, France, Poland, Germany, Serbia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Spain and England performed a Sperger sonata in the first round and a Sperger concerto for the third round, plus a new composition by bassist/composer Arni Egilsson, "European Memories." The judges' panel included Günter Klaus, chair, Arni Egilsson, Thierry Barbé, Lee Ho Gyo, Dorin Marc, Alexander Shilo, Radoslav Sasina, Miloslav Jelinek and Roman Patkolo. Klaus Trumpf was director of the competition. First prize was awarded to Soung Mikyung of South Korea, which included engagements for concerts with orchestras in Koblenz, Neubranderburg, Dessau, Lodz and Melkengurg. Second prize was awarded to Firlus Krystoph (Poland), and third prize went to Jakub Fortuna (Romania).
Double bass stolen in Mendoza (Argentina): Laureano Melchiori reports that robbers entered her house and took her Agustin Rosso bass, 2005, 4/4 size, light brown almost yellow color, dark brown walnut ridge, ebony fingerboard. On the upper back part of the bass it has an unusual rhomboid carving, and it also had a brown and black bass bib. It is missing the tuning peg of the D string. Email edhison@gmail.com with information.
The American Federation of Musicians will again be supporting a provision for musical instruments as carry-on/checked luggage on airplanes in the FAA reauthorization bill in 2011. Due to other issues within the bill, it did not pass this year and must be reintroduced. The AFM will again seek a uniform national policy regarding musical instruments that will apply to all major airlines. In order to gain support in Congress for this legislation, the AFM must demonstrate that musicians have problems every day with airline travel. Send your personal stories of airline travel issues to Hal Ponder at hponder@afm.org, or Laura Brigandi, lbrigandi@afm.org. In order to be relevant, the complaint should be about an occurrence within the last year.
Bass makers Guy Cole and Mario Lamarre won gold medals at the recent VSA Competition, held in Cleveland, OH. Congratulations to Guy and Mario!
The Amati Orchestra, an advanced new amateur symphony orchestra in London, England, seeks bassists (adult amateurs, grade 7+ standard) to rehearse and perform symphonic works to a high standard. Work under a professional conductor, Leo Patsalides, no audition necessary but you will need excellent technique, listening skills, energy and focus. Contact Hannah at amati@hotmail.co.uk.
ISB board member and 2007 convention co-host John Schimek, professor of double bass at Oklahoma City University, is a candidate for election to the American String Teachers Association board of directors. Vote bass! |
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Upcoming Events & Reminders
Click herefor guidelines and entry forms for the 2011 ISB Double Bass Competition, orchestra and age 14 and under divisions. Attention, bass makers, click here to download rules and entry form for the 2011 ISB Maker's Competition.
Click here for news and to learn about the ISB's participation in MTNA's "Year of Collaborative Music." Make plans to celebrate the Summer of Bass Love at the 2011 ISB Convention, June 6-11, at San Francisco State University. Stay tuned for details and mark your calendars!
FEBRUARY
The 2nd Annual Chicago Bass Festival, February 6, 2011 in Highland Park, IL, hosted by Midwest Young Artists (MYA), is a learning event for the Midwest area double bass community. Admission to dozens of masterclasses and clinics, catered lunch and festival t-shirt included in the registration fee, $75 early bird (before January 15th) $100 after January 15th. For more information go to www.chicagobassfestival.com.
The 2011 Louisiana Double Bass Festival will be held February 7th and 8th at the Louisiana State University School of Music in Baton Rouge. Guarneri House will be in residence to exhibit and work on string instruments. Guarneri House vice president Aaron Reiley will give a workshop discussing instrument repair, adjustment and related topics. Yung-chiao Wei (associate professor of double bass) and William Grimes (E. & D. White Professor of Jazz Studies) will give masterclasses and perform with double bass students in a chamber music reading session and recital. Young bassists interested in participating in the masterclass and chamber music reading session, please contact Mintzu Chao at mchao3@tigers.lsu.edu.
Victor Wooten will give a 4-day workshop at The Haven Center, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, February 7-11, 2011. For more information go to http://www.haven.ca/programs/victor-wooten.html.
ISB board of directors member and Bass World reviews editor Chris Kosky will perform Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" with the Air Force Chamber Players at 8 PM on Thursday, Feb 10th, at Harmony Hall in Fort Washington, MD. For more information go to http://arts.pgparks.com/page28840.aspx.
On February 10, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Mark Morton, assistant professor of double bass and John Gilbert, professor of violin at Texas Tech University, will perform Giovanni Bottesini's "Grand Duo Concertante" at the Texas Music Educators Association's Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Join David Murray, Butler University Professor of Bass, for Butler Midwest Bass Day, Saturday, February 12, 2011, 9 AM - 5 PM, in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall at Butler University, Indianapolis, IN. The guest faculty includes Hans Sturm (Ball State University), Diana Gannett (University of Michigan), Phillip Serna (Valparaiso University) and luthier Nick Lloyd. Activities include student and clinician performances, lectures, demonstrations and masterclasses. For more information email dmurray@butler.edu or call 317-940-8404.
ISB member Andrew Raciti (assistant principal bass, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra) will play the U.S. premiere of Macedonian composer Zivojin Glisic's "Concerto for Double Bass and String Orchestra" with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music Chamber Orchestra. The free concert will take place in Mills Hall on the UW campus on February 13, 2011, at 7:30 PM. Visit www.music.wisc.edu for more details.
The Vecchione/Erdahl Duo, Carrie Vecchione, oboe, and Rolf Erdahl, bass, joined by Ann Benjamin harp, presents a program of oboe/bass/harp trios and oboe/bass, oboe/harp, bass/harp duos on
Sunday, February 13th at 2 PM. $12 general admission, $10 seniors and students at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville, MN. This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) from an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature.
The Muncie (Indiana) Symphony Orchestra is sponsoring a new chamber series. The February 19, 2011 concert celebrates Black History Month, Valentine's Day, and the opening of the new Heart Center and features Hans Sturm, double bass, with mixed ensembles for three pieces: Frank Proto's "Afro-American Fragments" (cello, bass clarinet, double bass, narrator); Jon Deak's "Lucy and the Count" (string quartet, solo double bass, narrator); and "Elvis Goes Baroque" (string quintet, harpsichord).
The Toomai String Quintet was formed at Juilliard and won the 92nd St. Y's Music Unlocked! Competition for emerging ensembles in 2007. Violinists Emilie-Anne Gendron and Pala García, violist Erin Wight, cellist John Popham and bassist Andrew Roitstein named their group after Rudyard Kipling's short story "Toomai of the Elephants," in which a young boy journeys into the jungle to witness the dance of the wild elephants. On February 24th, they'll perform at the Issue Project Room at the Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn at 8 PM. For more information go to http://www.issueprojectroom.org/music/collide-o-scope-music-toomai-quintet/.
MARCH
The Vecchione/Erdahl Duo, Carrie Vecchione, oboe, and Rolf Erdahl, bass, presents a "Lunch and Learn" recital of original works for oboe/bass duo on Friday, March 25th at the Rochester Arts Center, Rochester, Minnesota. Works by Goplerud, Mann, Clearfield, free and open to the public, brown bag or reserve lunch for $8.50 at 507-252-1314. Lunch at 11:30, program 12-12:45 PM.
San Francisco Symphony principal bass Scott Pingel will play the Karr-Koussevitzky Bass, gifted to the ISB by its founder, Gary Karr, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on March 7th, and at University of Washington on March 13th.
APRIL
San Francisco Symphony principal bass Scott Pingel will play the Karr-Koussevitzky Bass, gifted to the ISB by its founder, Gary Karr, with the Vanhal concerto with The Academy Orchestra on April 3rd, with the Schulhoff Trio (with flautist Cathy Payne and violist Nancy Severance) on the San Francisco Symphony Chamber Music Series on April 10th, and the Bottesini Grand Duo at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on April 29th as a music scholarship benefit.
Dan Styffe, co-principal bass of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music, will premiere a new bass concerto by Swedish composer by Rolf Martinsson, with conductor Jukka Pekka Saraste and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in Osklo on April 7th. The performance will be recorded for CD release.
Gottfried Engels is teaching a course for double bass at the State Academy for Music in Heek, Germany, April 15-21, 2011. For more information go to www.landesmusikakademie-nrw.de/kursangebot/instrumental/kontrabass/.
On April 16, 2011 at 7 PM, Mark Morton, assistant professor of double bass and Renee Skerik, associate professor of viola at the Texas Tech University School of Music, will perform Evan Chambers' "Fischerstreet Duo" for viola and bass in the Hemmle Recital Hall.
JUNE
The 27th annual Colorado College Summer Music Festival takes place June 6-26, 2011. Full scholarships for all accepted students for tuition and room and board. On the faculty is Colorado Symphony bassist and University of Denver's Lamont School of Music instructor Susan Cahill. Application deadline is March 1st. Go to www.ArtsFestival.ColoradoCollege.edu/MusicFestival for more information.
The North Texas Double Bass Camps at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, feature four opportunities for summer study that meet the needs of bass students of any age or playing ability. The 23rd annual Bradetich Master Classes, June 13-17, 2011. The Beginners and Intermediate Bass Camp, June 15-17, 2011. The Pirastro Strings Elite Soloists Program, May 30 - June 3, 2011; and the Lynn Seaton Jazz Bass Workshop, June 13-17, 2011. For information go to http://music.unt.edu/strings/untbasscamp.shtml.
The Hammond Ashley Memorial Double Bass Workshop will be held at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, June 27-July 1, 2011, offering advanced classes with Max Dimoff, principal bass of the Cleveland Orchestra and Jeff Bradetich. Beginner, intermediate and adult classes will be taught by Todd Gowers, Ben Musa and Miriam Chong. Contact Todd Gowers at toddgowers@wwdb.org.
JULY
Miloslav Jelilnek will give solo and chamber music masterclasses July 16th through August 7th, 2011, in Brandys and Labem and Prague, Czech Republic. For more information and an application, go to http://www.ameropa.org/main.htm.
AUGUST
The Mittenwald International Master Classes, August 1-6, 2011, with Jeff Bradetich will be held in Mittenwald, Germany. For information go to www.music.unt.edu/mittenwald.
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Festivals, Competitions & Auditions
Click here for guidelines and entry forms for the 2011 ISB Double Bass Competition. Application deadlines for orchestra and age 14 and under is March 15th.
Attention, bass makers, click here to download rules and entry form for the 2011 ISB Maker's Competition. The 2011 Recital Music Composition Competition for Double Bass is open to composers of any age or nationality, and works written in any style or idiom. Categories for unaccompanied double bass or bass with piano or string orchestra, and works for one or more double basses with other instruments. Competition rules at www.recitalmusic.net, competition deadline is April 15, 2011.
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Music Bringing Us All Together
The ISB is a partner organization in the Music Teachers National Association's (MTNA) "Year of Collaborative Music." From March, 2010 through March, 2011, we will be encouraging ISB members to present concerts and events that promote the role of the bass in small ensembles. Click here for more information and to view a calendar of performances plus a list of chamber music resources.
Click here to view and listen to video clips from 2009's "Deep Tones for Peace," held on a worldwide virtual stage, featuring Mark Dresser, Barre Phillips, Henry Grimes, Chi-chi Nwanoku, Bert Turetzky, William Parker, Rufus Reid, Irina-Kalina Goudeva, Thierry Barbé, J.C. Jones and others in solo and ensemble performances.
Listen to "The Cool Jazz Set," hosted by ISB member Paul Pearce, to hear some of your favorite jazz artists each week live at 7 PM EST at www.wdce.org, or later at www.cooljazzset.com.
Learn more about the life and legacy of the late, great bassist Red Mitchell at the newly relaunched website www.redmitchell.com.
Young bassists and their teachers, go to the Kilenny School of Ireland, www.kilkennyschoolofmusic.net, to find free downloadable sheet music and play-along mp3 files. |
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Benefitting the ISB
 Sales from "Lynn Seaton Live" at the 2003 ISB Convention, with Lynn Seaton, bass, Bill Mays, piano, and Tim Froncek, drums benefit the International Society of Bassists. Listen to both originals and favorites from Lynn's amazing ISB convention debut. Buy here!
Ovidiu Badila began to study music at the age of six in Romania, and gained international renown, winning numerous prizes for his virtuosity. He was professor of the Staaliche Hochschule fur Musik of Trossingen in Germany and had recently started teaching at the Musik-Akademic der Stadt Basel in Switzerland before his untimely death in 2001. Here is a two-disk recording of his final recital, complete with the artist's lively commentary, given at the University of Washington in Seattle and hosted by Barry Lieberman. Barry released the CD as a tribute to Ovidiu Badila's brilliant and far too brief life and career, and has donated copies of the CD to the ISB. All sales benefit the International Society of Bassists, purchase here!
A portion of sales from the required piece for the Age 14 and Under Division of the 2011 ISB Double Bass Competition, Song and a Dance for Double Bass & Piano, written by Blaise Ferrandino and published by Ludwin Music, www.ludwinmusic.com, will be donated back to the ISB by the composer and publisher.
The first and only biography to date of jazz bassist Scott LaFaro has been published by the University of North Texas Press. Written by his sister, Helene LaFaro Fernandez, Jade Visions tells the story of one of the 20th century's most influential jazz musicians. Best known for his recordings with Bill Evans, he played bass a mere seven years before his life and career were tragically cut short by an automobile accident at age 25. The winner of the 2010 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research in Jazz, it combines an intimate look at his family along with insights into LaFaro's music and career by Gene Lees, Don Thompson, Jeff Campbell, Phil Palombi, Barrie Kolstein, Chuck Ralston and many others. Hardback, 352 pages, including never before published photos. $25 plus shipping and handling at http://www.isbstore.com/miscellaneous.html.  The perfect companion to the Scott LaFaro biography Jade Visions is the newly released CD, Pieces of Jade. Listen to some of LaFaro's earliest recordings with pianist Don Friedman and drummer Pete LaRoca, plus a 1966 interview with Bill Evans, over 20 minutes of an Evans and LaFaro rehearsal, and "Memories for Scotty," a solo piano tribute by Don Friedman. A must-have for fans of jazz and every bassist now available at the ISB Online Store, with a portion of proceeds from sales benefitting the ISB's Scott LaFaro Prize fund. $15 plus shipping and handling at http://www.isbstore.com/miscellaneous.html.
The George Vance Young Bassists Education Fund, established in honor and memory of the late George Vance, and will be dedicated to offering educational opportunities for young bassists. Send donations payable to the International Society of Bassists and addressed to the George Vance Young Bassists Education Fund, International Society of Bassists, 14070 Proton Rd., Suite 100, LB 9, Dallas, Texas 75244. The ISB is a 501(C)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. |
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