Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Edwin Barker


Listen Later

Edwin Barker is recognized as one of the most gifted bassists on the American concert scene. In this wide-ranging interview, you’ll hear about how when he was still a student, he won a job with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and then at age 22, he was appointed to the position of Principal Bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a position he has now held for nearly 50 years. He shared memories of his mentors, and his valuable perspectives on learning and teaching the bass, playing in orchestra, conductors, auditions, acoustics and more. We’re featuring his wonderful recent album of solo bass music, Basso Profundo, both J.S. Bach’s Suite no. 5 and Weinberg’s Sonata Op. 108.

You can also watch this on my YouTube, and I’ve also linked the transcript, everything linked here to my website.
It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Please consider either buying me a coffee on my Ko-fi page, or ordering some of my merchandise.
This weekly podcast is in Season 5 and I send out an email newsletter where you can get access to exclusive information about upcoming guests!
Navona records link to album:
https://edwinbarker.com
Weinberg biography
I think you may also enjoy these episodes:
Mark Deutsch
Thomas Cabaniss
Jeeyoon Kim
Rachel Mercer
Hillary Simms
Gail Archer
Jessica Cottis
and so many more !

photo of Edwin Barker: Sam Brewer

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(02:23) Ed’s start on the bass in school music program, Angelo LaMariana
(05:33) Henry Portnoi, Peter Mercurio
(09:25) New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony
(12:37) David Perlman, different schools of bass playing
(17:28) Basso Profundo album, Bach suite adaptation for the bass
(21:58) Courante from Bach Suite no. 5, from Basso Profundo (link in description)
(24:14)bass history, Dragonetti
(27:53) Ed’s first week in Boston, Mahler 1
(30:28) Seiji Ozawa, orchestra conductors
(34:26) composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg, solo bass repertoire
(37:34) 3rd movement of the Weinberg Sonata op. 108 (link in description)
(40:13) connection between the Bach Suite and the Weinberg sonata
(42:01) excerpt of the 5th movement, Lento, of Weinberg sonata
(42:56) Weinberg’s life
(46:43) excerpt of the 6th movement Weinberg sonata
(47:22) other episodes you will find interesting, ways to support this series
(48:14) the joys and challenges of orchestral playing
(56:59) the influence of the acoustics of the hall on an orchestras sound
(01:03:13) orchestra auditions
(01:10:32) teaching the bass, playing Principal

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah RosemanBy Leah Roseman

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

9 ratings


More shows like Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,901 Listeners

Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

78,423 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,155 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,236 Listeners

The Bulletproof Musician by Noa Kageyama

The Bulletproof Musician

158 Listeners

The Mind Over Finger Podcast by Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier

The Mind Over Finger Podcast

104 Listeners

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade by Audacy

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

12,798 Listeners