Contrabass Conversations

We're chatting with Volkan Orhon, David Murray, Anthony Stoops, and Paul Sharpe on this week's episode ofContrabass Conversations. Anthony Stoops was featured recently as an interview guest on the podcast, and we also featured Volkan playing one of Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand's basses on our interview with this fine luthier.

In this interview, we chat about the formation of the ensemble, the rehearsal process, their arrangements and musical selections, and the challenges of being in a quartet when all four members live in different cities. We're also featuring the quartet's live performances of a rock medley (arranged by Anthony) and 'Baby Got Bass' (arranged by Paul) after the interview. Learn more about these four bassists through the following links:

• Anthony Stoops: anthonystoops.com
• David Murray: butler.edu…..murray
• Volkan Orhon: volkanbass.com
• Paul Sharpe: ncarts.edu……sharpe
• Video of the Bad Boyz: bad-boyz-of-bass

Enjoy!

About Anthony:

Anthony Stoops is Artist/Teacher of Bass and String Area Chair at the University of Oklahoma School of Music. Since winning first prize in the International Society of Bassists international solo competition, he has performed throughout the United States and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Dr. Stoops has presented masterclasses in Poland, Brazil and throughout the U.S. at venues such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, Interlochen Arts Academy, Penn State University, and many others.

About David:

David Murray was born in Canada and began studies on the double bass at age 12. He worked in high school with Gary Karr and continued with Mr. Karr at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. During summers, Mr. Murray attended the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, A F of M String Congress, and both Tanglewood and Aspen as a fellowship recipient. Upon graduation he received the Outstanding Performer Award from the Hartt School, and later that year was a top prize winner in the Canada Music Competition. Mr. Murray was winner of the Aspen Bass Concerto Competition in 1981, and in 1988 won the International Society of Bassists Competition (for which he is now secretary) in Los Angeles and was presented by the Society in a Carnegie Hall debut in 1990.

About Paul:

Paul Sharpe maintains an international profile and career in a variety of roles as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral double bassist. As a student of Jeff Bradetich he received the B.M. degree in Performance from Northwestern University, and he obtained an M.A. degree in Music from the University of Iowa studying with Diana Gannett. Recent performances and engagements include recitals and masterclasses at the University of Iowa, Cleveland Institute of Music, World Bass Convention (Wroclaw, Poland), University of North Texas, University of Michigan, Interlochen Arts Academy, and Brazil's Sixth International Double Bass Encounter in Pirenopolis, Brazil.

About Volkan:

Acclaimed for his musicality and virtuosity, Volkan Orhon has established himself as one of the top double bassists in the world today. He was a finalist and prizewinner in the Concert Artists Guild Solo Competition in New York City, and was the co-first place winner of the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Additionally, he distinguished himself as the first double bass player ever to win the grand prize overall and first prize for double bass at the American String Teacher's Association Solo Competition.

Musical Selections:

• Rock Medley – arranged by Anthony Stoops
• Baby Got Bass – arranged by Paul Sharpe

This week, we're featuring Barrie Kolstein on the Contrabass Conversations show. Barrie discusses his father Samuel Kolstein and how he got into the bow making business, the progression into the bass making business, and the development of the Kolstein line of products (including rosin, stings, and cases) that bassists worldwide use today.

Barrie is a perceptive and extremely knowledgeable figure in the double bass community, and it was a real pleasure to do this interview. John, Barrie, and I actually chatted for a couple of hours, and it is all excellent content, so I'll be breaking this interview into two hour-long segments, and you'll be hearing the first half today. Visit the Kolstein shop online at www.kolstein.com. Enjoy!

About Barrie Kolstein:

Published numerous technical articles on restoration and appraisals in the International Society of Bassists with feature article published in the Strad, February 1991; presently editor of the "Luthier Corner" in the International Society of Bassistsmagazine restoration and repair forum; published regularly in the Double Bassist magazine and the Strad magazine, both of London, England, since 1996. These articles have ranged form interviews with makers and performers, technical articles on repair/making, and expert appraisal articles on historic master makers; featured in the violinmaking segment of Robin Lehman's documentary, Young Peoples Guide to the Orchestra; contacted to appear in the upcoming educational video on "Careers in Music". On the expert appraisers staff of Art Conservation fine arts adjusters as a String Instrument and Bow Expert.

Barrie Kolstein has completed well over one hundred instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass Violins) utilized by renowned players including Jeffrey Turner, Pittsburgh Symphony; Robert Gladstone, Detroit Symphony; James Van Demark, Professor of Double Bass Eastman School of Music and world famous soloist; Charles Urbont, Metropolitan Opera; James Clute, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra; David Sheets, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Lou Norton, New York Philharmonic; Caitlyn Kamanga, Hong Kong Philharmonic;, Scott Haig, Assistant Principal Bassist, Cleveland Orchestra; Hienrich Joachim, renowned soloist and former member of the New York Philharmonic; Lew Norton, New York Philharmonic; Barbara Yendell, Hong Kong Philharmonic, to name a few! Mr. Kolstein is a member of:

• Appraisers Association of America, 1994 to present
• International Society of Bassists, 1979 – present
• Violin Society of America, 1980 – present
• Viola Congress, 1983 – present
• Cello Congress, 1982 – present

Listed in The Violin Makers of the United States, by Thomas J. Wenberg, Mount Hood Publishing Company, 1986.

Learn more about the Kolstein shop at www.kolstein.com

We are exploring chamber music with Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians. This Contrabass Conversations special series highlights chamber music that includes the double bass. Learn more about the Chicago Chamber Musicians by visiting www.chicagochambermusic.org.

We'd like to extend special thanks to both Brad Opland and the Chicago Chamber Musicians for making this series possible. Listen to all Exploring Chamber Music episodes here, and hear Brad Opland in a Contrabass Conversations interview here.

We will be featuring the Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D Major on today's program. This work was recorded on March 26, 2006 at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. A performer roster and biographical information about the musicians is available here.

We're chatting with double bass luthier and Heartland String Bass Shop owner Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand today on the Contrabass Conversations podcast. Chris formerly worked at Robertson and Sons Violins before starting his own shop, and he makes extensions and does repair work in addition to crafting his own unique instruments.

It was a real pleasure to sit down and chat with Chris. I own a low B extension on my Jakstadt bass that Chris crafted, and it is a really excellent piece of hardware. I've also enjoyed playing on his various double basses, and I'll be excited to see how he continues to push the boundaries of instrument making and come up with new and innovative ways of crafting double basses.

We're also featuring a track from University of Iowa bass professor Volkan Orhonperformed on one of Chris' instruments. Check out the photos below for samples of Chris' work. More photos, plus detailed information about the Heartland String Bass Shop and contact information for Chris can be found at www.heartlandsbs.com. Enjoy!

About Chris:

Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand started playing bass at age nine. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Iowa where he studied under Eldon Obrecht and earned a Bachelor of Music in String Bass Performance. Chris has played with the Quad Cities Youth Symphony, the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Symphony Orchestra, and the Quad Cities Symphony. He has also performed with many bands during his career, ranging from jazz to blues to folk in communities as far ranging as Nagoya, Japan and Austin, Texas.

Chris has had a life-long interest in the sound and responsiveness of basses. As a player, Chris knows that having a finely tuned instrument is critical, and he recognizes the remarkable difference a slight sound post adjustment or bridge arching can make.

His interest in sound and the influence of craftsmanship and ingenious problem solving led him to world famous Collings Guitars. While working at Collings and living in Austin, his cat (a black one!) knocked over and broke the neck on his bass. At the time, Chris was taking private lessons from Professor David Neubert at the University of Texas. Frustrated with the quality of the repair work on his bass, Chris asked Professor Neubert to recommend a good repair shop. "Albuquerque" was the guiding answer. Robertson & sons Violin shop is one of the world's finest string instrument repair shops & is located in Albuquerque, NM.

For five years at Robertson & Sons, Chris had the opportunity to learn the craft of bass repair and construction under the tutelage of an acknowledged master, and work on some of the finest basses in the world. From neck grafts to cracks, Chris's skills were applied to a full range of challenges. But he also developed many original techniques, including installation of custom low C & B extensions that integrate into the scroll rather than cutting the scroll and gluing the extension to the modified scroll.

In 2003 it was time to set up shop in his home state of Iowa, and bring his remarkable set of skills and experiences to musicians in the Midwest. Heartland String Bass Shop is the complete manifestation of a musical life, a commitment to sound, and skills honed under the watchful eye of the finest instrument makers and repairers in the world.

Learn more about Chris at www.heartlandsbs.com.

This is an interview-only Contrabass Conversations episode concluding our chat with Cincinnati Symphony Principal Bassist Owen Lee. We chat about practicing, summer festivals, recording yourself when preparing for auditions, and much more. To hear the first two segments of this interview plus several musical selections featuring Owen, check out episodes 55 and 66 of the show. Enjoy!

We're chatting with double bassist Anthony Stoops today on Contrabass Conversations. Anthony is the Artist/Teacher of Bass and String Area Chair at the University of Oklahoma School of Music. He also won first prize in the International Society of Bassists international solo competition and is the past recipient of a Karr Foundation double bass. Learn more about Anthony by visiting his website at anthonystoops.com.

We're also featuring Anthony performing the Pieces en Concert by Couperin, plus some listener feedback, bass news, and shout-outs to some of our Facebook group members. Enjoy!

About Anthony:

Anthony Stoops is Artist/Teacher of Bass and String Area Chair at the University of Oklahoma School of Music. Since winning first prize in the International Society of Bassists international solo competition, he has performed throughout the United States and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Dr. Stoops has presented masterclasses in Poland, Brazil and throughout the U.S. at venues such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, Interlochen Arts Academy, Penn State University, and many others.

The past recipient of a Karr Foundation Doublebass, Stoops is widely regarded as one of the top bass soloists in the world today. As an orchestral musician, Stoops has performed regularly in over a dozen orchestras including the Detroit, Columbus (OH) and Toledo Symphony orchestras, and the Michigan Opera Theater among many others, under many of the world's great conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Neeme Järvi, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez and Charles Dutoit.

He studied with Diana Gannett at Iowa (and later at Michigan), Stuart Sankey at Michigan, Jeff Bradetich at Northwestern, and Eugene Levinson at Aspen. Other influential teachers include Max Dimoff, Principal Bass of the Cleveland Orchestra, Stephen Molina, Assistant Principal Bass of the Detroit Symphony. In high school, he studie with Dr. Mark Morton, Principal Bass of the Columbus Symphony.

As a devotee of new music, Stoops' wide–ranging repertoire has included premieres of several works, including his own. Prior to his appointment at OU, he taught at Bowling Green State University, the Ann Arbor School for Performing Arts and the renowned Preucil School of Music.

He lives in Norman, OK with his wife, cellist Emily Gosma Stoops and their son, Henry. In his spare time, Anthony enjoys fishing, cooking, swimming and Yoga.

We're continuing our chat with Cincinnati Symphony principal bassist Owen Lee today on Contrabass Conversations. Check out the first segment of this conversation on episode 55 of the program. Owen played for the New World Symphony and the Houston Symphony prior to his appointment with the Cincinnati Symphony, and it was a real pleasure to do this interview along with Contrabass Conversations regular collaborator John Grillo.

John, Owen, and I chat about Owen's experiences recording his solo CD, key selection for the Bach Suites and his use of solo tuning for the recording, his performances of the less popular but extremely engaging Bottesini Concerto No. 1, performing the Tubin Concerto with orchestra, the Harbison Bass Concerto project (which Owen performed with the Cincinnati Symphony), and his practicing habits and exercises.

We also feature the first movement from the Cello Suite No. 5 by Johann Sebastian Bach from Owen's Boston Records CD, plus listener feedback, bass news, and a link of the week.

Find Owen Lee on Twitter here. Enjoy!

About Owen:

Described as "a true virtuoso" by legendary pianist Gary Graffman and praised by The New York Times for his "deft and virtuosic solo performance" at his New York debut at Alice Tully Hall, double bassist Owen Lee has earned acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician and since 1996, at the age of 26, as Principal Bass of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Lee is heard regularly as a soloist with orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Paavo Järvi and Jesús López-Cobos, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under John Harbison, and the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson-Thomas in Miami and on tour to New York's Lincoln Center. During the 2006-07 season, Mr. Lee and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, along with a consortium of other soloists and orchestras, will present the world premiere of John Harbison's Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra.

Mr. Lee's prizes in competitions include First Prize at the 1995 International Society of Bassists Competition and Fourth Prize at the 1992 Irving M. Klein International String Competition in San Francisco. He has been presented in recitals throughout the United States, and in Geneva.

For the Boston Records label, he has recorded the Misek Sonata No. 2 and Bach Unaccompanied Suites No. 3 and No. 5. American Record Guide praised this disc for its "tasteful phrasing, polish and verve" while The Strad wrote "Owen Lee is a fine player with strong musical ideas. A dark and austere sound is produced for Suite No. 5 and the architecture of each suite is carefully considered and shaped. I look forward to his next recording."

Mr. Lee's extensive international chamber music experience includes three summers as the bassist of the Marlboro Festival. While there, he performed extensively with such artists as Richard Stoltzman, Midori, Nobuko Imai, Bruno Canino, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, and members of the Beaux Arts Trio, Guarneri Quartet and Juilliard Quartet. He also collaborated with composers Gyorgy Kurtag, Leon Kirchner and Richard Danielpour preparing performances of those composers' works. Mr. Lee has also performed with the Tokyo String Quartet on tour to Mexico, John Browning, Anne-Marie McDermott, Jaime Laredo, Ida Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, Peter Wiley, Eugenia Zukerman, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, San Diego's Mainly Mozart Festival, Ojai California Festival, Chamber Music L.A. Festival, Tanglewood Festival, Texas Music Festival, and on tour throughout China. With the Rossetti String Quartet he performed the world premiere of Melinda Wagner's Concertino at the 2005 Bravo! Vail Festival.

Mr. Lee was born in Berkeley, California in 1969 to Chinese parents. He began playing bass at age 15 after previous study of the piano. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Mr. Lee's principal teachers were Dennis Trembly, Edwin Barker and Paul Ellison.

Prior to his appointment in Cincinnati, Mr. Lee was a member of the Houston Symphony under Christoph Eschenbach. In addition to his position with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Lee serves as Principal Bass of the Shanghai Festival Orchestra.

Owen is married to CiCi Lee. He enjoys bicycling, snowboarding, cigars, auto repair and playing drums and writing songs with his rock band Toe (Eric Bates, CSO 2nd Assistant Concertmaster is Toe's guitarist and lead singer, and Ted Nelson, CSO cellist is Toe's bassist).

We're wrapping up our interview with double bassist Peter Seymour this week on Contrabass Conversations. We began this interview on episode 53, so be sure to check this episode out if you missed it! Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at projecttrio.com.

This episode, we discuss:

• how Project (which is both a group and a nonprofit organization) came to be
• playing in the style of today
• their upcoming Brooklyn Philharmonic presentation
• how although classical musicians are some of the most creative people out there, we can be very passive professionally
• how Project for Peter is a full-on business
• how the wide network of contacts he's made over the years in professional orchestras across the country are paying off now with Project
• similarities between the orchestral path and what Peter's doing with Project in terms of outlook and work ethic
• balancing the administration of Project with practicing and finding time to continue to grow musically

Although Peter has focused on obtaining a position in a major orchestra for many years, he is now focused on creating new creative outlets with Project, and his decision to strike out on his own with this great trio is an example of musical entrepreneurship at its finest. Be sure to pick up a copy of Winter in June, the new release from this killer trio. Enjoy!

Videos from Project:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf6tuisazQA
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDYPuwZcfdk

About Peter:

Dallas native Peter Seymour has performed with a multitude of highly acclaimed artists and ensembles. As a member of the Cleveland Orchestra he performed under the baton of Franz Welser-Möst and in the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He was the recipient of the Downbeat Magazine Award for Best Jazz Soloist in 1996 and has appeared with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, and Bobby McFerrin.

The son of an educator, Peter has been very active in planning and performing community outreach activities throughout the country and served as events coordinator for the New World Symphony Orchestra from 2001-2004.

He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master's Degree in Bass Performance from Rice University where he was a student of Paul Ellison. Peter is active composing and performing with PROJECT, the ensemble he co-founded with cellist Eric Stephenson. He presently resides in New York City.

About Project:

PROJECT is a dynamic young group that is exciting audiences with their energy and innovative style. Their sound can only be described as a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music – balanced out by a sincere allegiance to their classical roots. By combining the classical repertoire with original compositions, PROJECT reaches out to new audiences. Through performance and outreach/education concerts, we can provide access for the next generation of music lovers.

Tracks played:

From 'Winter in June' by Project – available at http://cdbaby.com/cd/projectmusic

This week we feature an interview with and music from the Chicago Bass Ensemble. Group founder Jacque Harper joins former Contrabass Conversations guests Michael Hovnanian and Doug Johnson plus double bass blogger John Floeter to create the core quartet of this ensemble.

The Chicago Bass Ensemble will be performing at Northern Illinois University on February 14. Click here for more details, and learn more about this great ensemble at www.chicagobassensemble.com.

Ever hear an entire bass quartet interviewed at the same time? We sure haven't, and getting a chance to sit down with these four good-natured fellows was a lot of fun. After the interview, we feature performances of 'Prologue' from Prophetiae Sibyllarum by Orlando di Lassus and the first movement of the Quartet No. 2 by Jan Alm.

Learn more about these four musicians through the following links:

• Jacque Harper – www.chicagobassensemble.com
• Michael Hovnanian – www.csobassblog.blogspot.com
• John Floeter – www.johnfloeterbassstudio.blogspot.com
• Douglas Johnson – www.myspace.com/douglasjohnson
• Gunnelpumpers (featuring Michael and Doug) – www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
• Gunnelpumpers on Contrabass Conversations
• Michael on Contrabass Conversations

Enjoy!

Contrabass Conversations regular contributor John Grillo and I recorded a follow-up episode to our recent Opera Excerpt Breakdown episode. In this episode we chat a little more generally about opera bass playing and how it differs from orchestral bass playing.

John has played for numerous opera companies in the past, including the Pittsburgh Opera and Spoleto Festival die Due Mondi in Italy. He recently performed Wagner's Ring Cycle as the only bass player (!). Learn more about John on his Contrabass Conversations page, check out his virtual recital, listen to the Opera Excerpt and Orchestra Excerpt breakdowns