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Listen to Christian McBride and the late, great Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen duet on “Bye Bye Blackbird” at http://dbassists.blogspot.com/2008/01/jazzy-double-bass-duets.html.
Listen to Jazz free form/fusion/avant garde/electro acoustic music ensemble Mwendo Dawa featuring ISB member Jimmi Roger Pedersen at
www.musikihalland.se/gemaket.
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the only professional music school to receive the 2009 National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the United States government to artists and arts patrons in recognition of their creative expressions. President Barack Obama presented the award to Dean David Stull at a White House ceremony on February, 25, 2010.
Stevie Wonder and Bill and Camille Cosby will be special guests at the grand opening and celebration of the Litoff Building, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music’s new facility for jazz studies, April 30-May 1, 2010 in Oberlin, Ohio. For more information go to www.oberlin.edu.
There are two openings for bass students at the McDuffie School for Strings at Mercer University in Georgia to study with Kurt Muroki and Eugene Levinson. Go to http://www2.mercer.edu/mcduffie, or email kurtmuroki@gmail.com.
Animated Basses to Benefit Grammy Music Education Programs. To see the decorated basses, click here.
Members of the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra, under the auspices of the Detroit Scarab Club, performed the world premiere of a new quintet by composer/bassist Clark Suttle on January 24, 2010 at Marygrove College in Detroit, MI. "In Madness, Dreams" was performed as a companion piece to the Prokofiev Quintet by Geoffrey Johnson, oboe, Brian Bowman, clarinet, Velda Kelly, violin, Laura Leigh Roelofs, viola, and Jean Posakany Lockhart, double bass. The Plymouth Symphony (MI), under the baton of music director Nan Washburn, gave the world premiere of a commissioned double bass concerto by Clark Suttle with the composer as soloist on April 5, 2008 in Northville, MI. "Esh Olam" is a 30 minute work scored for medium size orchestra, and the commission and performance were instrumental in helping the Plymouth Symphony win an ASCAP award for their season.
Check out the sound of Diego Stocco’s “Experibass” on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYj7dMYwxM.
Click Here to listen to Ron Carter’s appearance on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” show on NPR.
KPOV FM Radio in Bend Oregon is now requesting new music of any genre, blues to bluegrass, funk, jazz, roots/Americana country, reggae, cowboy western, doo wop, oldies, techno, from labels and artists. Send any music format to the station to:
KPOV FM, 501 NW Bond St., Bend, OR. 97702, attn: William Johnson, phone 541-322-0863. For more information go to www.kpov.org.
Sonia Ray has launched the “Speak Little Bass” Project to help children in Brazil learn more about playing and having fun with the double bass. Go to www.soniaray.com/falabaixinho
Ron Carter was honored by the French Ministry of Culture on January 12, 2010 when he was inducted in a Paris ceremony as a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest honor bestowed upon those who have significantly contributed to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance.
The Pirastro Strings Elite Soloists Program provides free tuition, room
and board for 5 participants selected by audition to study with Jeff
Bradetich June 1-5, 2010. Daily lessons and solo classes are held in a
highly individualized program with a focus on developing an artist's
level approach to solo performance. To qualify, students must have a
full program of solo works ready for study and performance.
Participants
in the program include current members of the Detroit Symphony, National
Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, Singapore
Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
For complete information, please go to:
http://bradetichfoundation.org/workshops.php
To download podcasts of Paul Pearce’s Sunday evening "Cool Jazz Set" radio program: go to www.radio4all.net; type in cool jazz set in the search window and all archived shows will appear and can be downloaded.
Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival
Redlands Community Music Association, Inc.
59th Annual Young Artist Auditions -2010
(A Classical Music Competition)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
University of Redlands, Watchorn Hall
1200 E. Colton Avenue • Redlands, CA
$500 Prize for Junior Category Winners
$1000 Prize for Senior Category Winners
And the opportunity to perform in recital at the Redlands Bowl!
MONETARY PRIZES ARE CONTINGENT UPON PERFORMING AT THEREDLANDS BOWL SUMMER FESTIVAL ON JUNE 29, 2010
CATEGORIES
PIANO and INSTRUMENTAL - Junior: to age 18; Senior: 19-26 years of age
VOICE - Junior: 18-23; Senior; 24-30 years of age
Preliminary Auditions (closed to the public) start at 1:00 p.m.
Final Auditions (open to the public) start at 7:30 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
E-mail: info@redlandsbowl.org or call (909) 793-7316
Mail: RCMA, Inc., Young Artists Auditions, P.O. Box 466 • Redlands, CA 92373
Sponsored by The Association of the Redlands Bowl
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 26, 2010
******LIMITED TO THE FIRST 50 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED******
The 2010 Recital Music Composition Competition for Double Bass is open to composers of any age or nationality. The theme of the competition is the discovery of Jupiter's four largest moons in January 1610 by Galileo Galilei, now called the Galilean or 'Medician' satellites, in honor of their Florentine heritage. There are five categories and submitted works written in any style or idiom are acceptable. Composers may submit more than one entry, but each must be accompanied by the relevant entry fee.
Works should be unpublished but may have been performed previously. Works written for 4-stringed basses, with the lowest note of E, and in any standard tuning are preferred. Recordings may also be submitted with each entry. For complete details of the divisions, and submission guidelines, click here.
Listen here to Christian McBride’s guest turn on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” on National Public Radio
The Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China held its Third Double Bass Competition, November 17-21, 2009. 34 participants from 13 conservatories and orchestras nationwide competed in two groups, ages 19 to 30 and age 18 and younger. Entrants played concerto repertoire by Bottesini, Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Françaix, Koussevitzky, Rota and Vanhal. The jury included Massimo Giorgi (Italy), Liu Peiyan, Wei Baozheng, Zhu Gongqi and Zong Bo (chair). The director of the double bass teaching and research group at the Central Conservatory, Professor Chen Ziping, was in charge of the competition. Winners of the junior group were: 1st prize, Jiang Can and Li Gengfeng; 2nd prize, Deng Fangting and Liu Tianyao; and 3rd prize, Zhang Jianze. The winners of the senior group were: 1st prize, Lv Chengyin; 2nd prize, Xv Jingying and Zhang Tianshu; and 3rd prize, Cai Jieqi and Li Na. Professor Massimo Giorgi held masterclasses and played a recital as the grand finale of the competition. For more information go to http://basschina.com.
ISB life member Rolland Wallace has been named the 2009 Kendall/Pelton “Musician of the Year Award,” given annually to a person who has made a major contribution to the Midland, Michigan music community. He will receive the award at the Grand Rapids Ballet Company’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” on Saturday, December 5th at the Midland Center for the Arts. Congratulations, Roland!
The bass section of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (left to right) are Matt Hogan, Jared Henderson, Tom Mitchell, Charlie Rosen, Edward Skipka and Alex Muri, principal bass. Not pictured are Alex Toth and Johannes Heger. The orchestra’s repertoire includes not only standards, but also original compositions by Berklee faculty and students, contemporary orchestral music from around the globe, and contemporary genres such as film scores and video game music. Their second season opening concert included the world premiere of Quiet Earth: A Fantasie for Orchestra, by assistant chair of the Berklee composition department James Russell, and arrangements of the music of Pink Floyd by Angel Quinones of Venezuela.
Presenters and attendees gathered for a group photo at the 2009 Texas
Double Bass Symposium held at Texas Christian University, Yuan Xiong Lu, director.
Click here to read an interview on NPR’s jazz themed “Blog Supreme” with bassist Tatsu Aoki, executive director of Asian Improv aRts Midwest and founder and artistic director of the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival. Aoki performed at the festival with his Miyumi Project ensemble, which combines Taiko drums with bass and woodwinds. And while you’re there, click here to catch up with Christian McBride, live at the Village Vanguard.
Catalin Rotaru just returned from a 3-week concert tour in Bucharest and Romania. He performed the Koussevitzky concerto with the Enescu Philharmonic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20nn7ZbqVzU, and the Haydn cello concerto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRwZJ-WBjkg. The Haydn concerto performance was part of a gala concert that included a 40-person double bass orchestra celebrating Professor Ion Cheptea’s 80th birthday. Happy birthday from the ISB, Professor Cheptea!
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln is conducting a job search for Assistant Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies. View a job description. Application deadline is January 15, 2010.
ISB member Joe Johnson was honored as the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composer’s Competition grand prize winner on October 11, 2009 in Washington, DC. The composer’s competition, presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and BMI, was established in 1993. In recognition of his award-winning composition “Shepherd Song,” Joe received a $10,000 reward from the institute. A Fellow at the Henry Mancini Institute for two years, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, and recently completed his master’s degree at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at Loyola University in New Orleans. He now lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he is a composer and sound designer. Way to go, Joe!
Bassist/composer Ben Allison has launched The Think Free Project. Musicians and filmmakers can be part of a virtual collaboration by going to www.youtube.com/thethinkfreeproject and listening to Ben’s invitation to record and submit their own interpretations of two tracks posted on the site from his latest CD, “Think Free.”
Mike’s Master Classes, http://www.mikesmasterclasses.com/, has released new classes by Christian McBride, Harvie S and Drew Gress. Coming soon is another class by Harvie S, a new class by Lynn Seaton, plus a workshop by Ron Carter, streamed live from David Gage String Instruments, http://www.davidgage.com/, with a recording to follow. There are also many workshops recorded at the ISB Convention in June, 2009, available for download.
ISB member Gunars Upatnieks of Latvia, winner of the 2007 ISB solo competition, has won first prize and the audience favorite award in the double bass division of the 58th ARD International Music Competition. Gunars, who opened the 2009 ISB convention with his superb recital, is a student of Miloslav Jelinek. And in jazz news, Ben Williams has taken first prize in the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition. Ben won the 2005 ISB jazz competition. Second place winner was ISB member Joe Sanders, who also came in second at the 2009 ISB jazz competition, and taking third prize was ISB member Matt Brewer. Congratulations to all these gifted young artists!
Here’s a video clip to view if you’re interested in a new school of walking bass technique!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8Gvwc2GyQ
Click here to read about the musical collaboration of banjoist Bela Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer, and tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain on the NPR website. The three have released a new album that includes a triple concerto performed with the Detroit Symphony.
The University of Maryland School of Music welcomes Richard Barber and Anthony Manzo to its double bass faculty. They join Robert Oppelt and Tom Baldwin on the bass teaching team at UMD. For more information visit: www.music.umd.edu
The Bradetich Foundation announces the inaugural International Double Bass Solo Competition, June 16-20, 2010, hosted by the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton, Texas, USA. The Competition is open to anyone under the age of 35 as of the first day of the competition June 16, 2010, and who has not given a formal New York City debut concert. The International Double Bass Solo Competition endeavors to identify emerging international artists and to provide career advancement and leadership opportunities. First place includes a $10,000 cash prize. For competition rules or additional information on the Inaugural International Double Bass Competition, contact Maria Harman, 940-368-5395, mharman@bradetichfoundation.org or go to www.bradetichfoundation.org.
Gary Karr and Harmon Lewis recently welcomed the Emperor and Empress of Japan to their home for an enjoyable visit and private concert. Their Majesties’ stop in Victoria, British Columbia coincided with the beginning of the annual Karr Kamp.
A new radio show dedicated to jazz begins Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm Eastern Standard Time on WDCE 90.1 FM at the University of Richmond, Virginia. ISB member Paul Pearce is the host of "The Cool Jazz Set," and plans to feature as many of his ISB friends as possible. For those outside the Richmond, Virginia area, you can listen at www.wdce.org.
Susan Cahill is the new instructor of double bass at the University of
Denver in Denver,
Colorado. She is also a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra bass
section.
For more information about the Alexander & Buono String competition, with divisions for Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College/Adult and Amateur Adult, go to www.abstrings.com. Application deadline is October 15, 2009. Winners will perform in recital at Carnegie Hall on November 22, 2009.
Follow these links to view footage of the late jazz bassist Red Mitchell with pianist Bill Mays playing:
Well, You Needn’t
‘Round Midnight
Klactoveesedstene
I Mean You
Video and audio clips featuring composer, Louisiana Philharmonic principal and jazz/funk bassist Dave “Symphony Boy” Anderson, include a live recording of his new Sonata No. 2 for double bass and piano recently performed by his friend and commissioner Hal Robinson, principal bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra, can be found at these links:
Contrabassconversations
YouTube
You Send It
Early Music America awarded Jerry Fuller, Evanston, the Early Music Outreach Award for his work Midwest Young Artists (MYA), one of the leading youth music ensemble programs in the Midwest. In addition to his work with MYA, Fuller is principal double bassist of The Baroque Band and a member of the period instrument forces for Chicago’s Music of the Baroque and Chicago Opera Theater. He is the director of Ars Antigua, and has written about period instruments and performance practice for The Strad, Double Bassist, and Bass World magazines.
Chuck Sher has honed his listening skills as part of his job publishing Sher Music Co.'s well-known (and legit) fake books. You can now be the beneficiary of his 50-year love affair with jazz by going to http://www.shermusic.com and hitting the big green button at the bottom of the home page. This will take you to a series of Rhapsody playlists you can listen to for free on your home computer. For a small monthly fee, Rhapsody subscribers can access thousands and thousands of jazz CDs at no extra charge (complete tracks in almost all cases), but even if you are not a subscriber to Rhapsody's online music service, you can still listen to 25 songs from Chuck's playlists per month without charge – some 700 songs (50 hours) of music, with additions every month. Go to www.shermusic.com.
The Strad magazine has started a free service to help reunite stringed instrument owners with lost or stolen instruments. If your bass has been lost or stolen in the last few months, go online to www.thestrad.com/lostandstoleninfo and fill out details to be added to the database. The information will then appear to the public on our website from May on, so that readers of The Strad and visitors to www.thestrad.com throughout the world can be alert and aware of lost/stolen instruments if and when they surface.
Deep Tones for Peace Now! is a daily streaming of live meditations for peace in the Middle East over the Internet using ustream.tv The idea is to play your bass for 5-30 minutes with the intent of musically sending vibrations for peace to be viewed throughout the world. This is open to all bassists who wish to participate in an ongoing musical transmission for peace. Any style or form of music and any level bass player can participate. The main requirement is the intent and desire to create peace in the world. We truly believe this project will have an impact on the balance of life. This is part of a larger project, Deep Tones for Peace, For more information on how to participate in Deep Tones for Peace Now go to http://deeptonesforpeace.org/live/.
The Peabody Conservatory is pleased to announce the appointment of Harold “Hal” Robinson, principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra and instructor at the Curtis Institute, as Peabody Artist-Faculty in Residence. Beginning in Fall 2009, he will join current Peabody double bass faculty Paul Johnson and Jeffrey Weisner in this newly created position. Mr. Robinson will visit Peabody multiple times over the course of the year for day-long classes, presentations and intensive group lessons with Peabody bass students. Student will work collaboratively with both their primary teacher and Hal Robinson to develop their own artistry and musicianship. For information email Jeffrey Weisner, jeffrey.weisner@gmail.com.
Girl seeks scroll, object, reunion! Jennifer Godfrey is looking for and wishes to purchase a particular double bass scroll (possibly attached to a neck.) Last seen, it had reddish varnish, old brass tuners, partial neck attached, and was in good condition. The scroll belongs to a bass formerly owned by the late John J. Brown who studied at University of Minnesota, Columbia University, Indiana University, and played in the Minneapolis Symphony for five years, the Indianapolis Symphony for one year, and the U.S. Air Force Band for two years. He also played at the summer festivals Peter Britt Gardens Music and the Fine Arts Festival in Jacksonville, OR. He retired from teaching in the public schools of Edmonds and Everett, WA, and also played in the Cascade Symphony in WA. This scroll was last known to be seen by John Brown and his deceased immediate family. Please contact Jennifer if you think you have this scroll, knew John J. Brown, or if you have any information about this scroll. Email godfrey33@juno.com.
Rob Nairn will be joining the Juilliard School in Fall, 2009 as adjunct faculty, teaching Double Bass/Violone in the newly established Historical Performance program. Aimed at fostering informed, vital interpretations with the level of technical excellence and musical integrity for which the School is renowned, the Juilliard Historical Performance program will offer a comprehensive course of study for young artists with a special interest in music from the High Baroque through the early Classical eras. All Historical Performance majors will be on full tuition scholarship. For more information contact Rob Nairn at rcn3@psu.edu, or go to Juilliard Historical Performance Program.
Nico Abondolo and Timothy Eckert are pleased to announce that full tuition, room and board scholarships are available for the undergraduate double bass program at Azusa Pacific University. Additionally, full scholarships are available for the artist certificate program. Azusa Pacific is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As a microcosm of global culture, the LA area serves as an extended classroom where students can experience and participate in its rich musical offerings. APU music students experience a unique blend of academic rigor, experiential learning, and personal support that sets them apart. For more information visit www.apu.edu/music/ or contact Timothy Eckert at teckert@apu.edu.
Peter Derenski is searching for information regarding the whereabouts of his
grandfather's bass for sentimental reasons. His grandfather was Frank
Kieca, and he played in the Indianapolis and Chicago Symphony orchestras.
His instrument was a Grancino, c. 1690. After Frank's death, his widow sold the bass to one of his students, Rudy Fahsbender, who played with the Chicago Symphony until 1968. His son also played bass and inherited all the
instruments when Rudy passed away. If readers have any information about the
instrument's whereabouts, Peter has his grandfather's notes on the history
of the bass to pass along to the current owner. Email
Peter.A.Derenski@Boeing.Com.a>
Bassist Todd Coolman has just released his latest recording, an ArtistShare project entitled Perfect Strangers. Todd spent over a year soliciting original jazz compositions from the public at large and formed a quintet to interpret them. This select group of individuals, known as the “Learning Community,” then collaborated in the creative process, yielding very interesting results. The recording, accompanied by documentation of the entire process via streaming audio and video files, is available at: www.toddcoolman.com. Learn more about ArtistShare at www.artistshare.com.
Arizona Bass Players, Inc. has established the David Walter Memorial
Scholarship in Double Bass, for a graduate student to study double bass
performance at any of the three state universities in Arizona, or other
location by choice of the recipient. Claudia Barritt, David Walter's widow,
is heading up the fund drive, with a goal of providing a graduate teaching
assistantship salary for a maximum three years of graduate study. The
endowment fund target is $200,000. The Fund has collected donations from
David's former students and family members. To donate to the Fund, please
contact Patrick Neher directly at abp@arizonabassplayers.org or call
520-891-0432. For more information go to www.arizonabassplayers.org.
What is the best ride for your double bass on the road today? Jeffrey Koczela, professor of double bass at George Washington University in Washington, DC, says the Honda Fit works great. It’s a 4-door, offers good mileage and can fit bass, driver and three other people (two people in the back seat, at least one of them should be small!) Says Jeffrey, “I can fit my bass on the 40% side of the 60/40 split back seat. The Toyota Yaris can do the same, but it’s only a 2-door, and it’s not easy to slide the bass in the 40% side due to the ceiling-mounted seat belt holder. Same issue with Toyota Matrix. One of my students got a ride with bass to his lesson yesterday in a Mini Cooper - now I want to see someone show up in a SmartCar!”
Andrew Kohn is collecting the writings of Theron McClure with hopes of publication. If you have any copies of Ohio Bass Notes, please contact him at Andrew.Kohn@mail.wvu.edu or by phone at 412-621-3758.
The great photographer Herman Leonard has a new website. Go to http://www.hermanleonard.com to learn about books of his collected photos for sale, and view dazzling images of many of your favorite jazz personalities.
Jeffrey Weisner, professor of double bass at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, sends word that the double bass department has a new group blog, PBDB. It’s a little corner of the Internet to sound off on all things bass at Peabody, and will feature posts from all the bass faculty as well as some student guest bloggers. Visit the blog at http://peabodydoublebass.blogspot.com.
In 1990, Tom Lord created The Jazz Discography as a CD-ROM. The resource currently lists 160,000 entries. According to Lord’s compilation, the most recorded single musician in jazz history is Milt Hinton and in fact, four of the top 12 most-recorded musicians are bassists. The other bass greats in the top 12 are Ron Carter, Ray Brown and George Duvivier. For information go to www.lordisco.com.
ISB member Donovan Stokes is the new professor of double bass at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA. His wife, ISB member and former ISB board member Inez Wyrick has already been hired by McClean (VA) High School, and will be affiliated with the pre-college Arts Academy of Winchester, VA. Congratulations, Donovan and Inez!
Donations now being accepted for the Scott LaFaro Memorial Award, given annually to a deserving graduating student at the legendary jazz bassist's high school alma mater. Send your tax deductible donation, payable to Geneva City Schools: Attn: Amy Rogers, Geneva City Schools, 649 S. Exchange St., Geneva, NY 14456.
Banner space is available on this website! Visit our advertising page for more information!
The International Association of Jazz Educators' Artist Outreach Network Listing Service and Grants Program puts artists and students in touch worldwide. For more information, e-mail info@iaje.org, or visit http://www.iaje.org/.
HEY, BASSIST, COME HERE OFTEN? If you're using the resources of this website, we hope you're also a member of the International Society of Bassists. If you're not, you don't know what you're missing! Members receive Bass World magazine three times a year, with an eclectic mix of articles on every aspect of the double bass, profiles of performers, reviews of recordings and music and bass-focused ads. And you'll stay informed about bass events around the world, including ISB competitions and conventions, by reading the Bass Line newsletter, published twice a year. Join now by visiting our membership page!
Ray Brown's ART OF THE BASS VIDEOS are now available through Lemur Music. That means four chances to see and hear Ray again as he shares savvy tips and makes music with fellow bass greats Milt Hinton, John Clayton and Francois Rabbath, and swings with his own Triple Treat Trio featuring pianist Monty Alexander and guitarist Herb Ellis. Bassists everywhere will want these previously hard-to-find videos in their libraries. (VHS format only, color, 30 minutes except the Triple Treat video, which is 60 minutes long.) Sales benefit the ISB. Go to www.lemur-music.com or call 1-800-246-BASS in the U.S. and Canada.
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In Memory
George Vance passed away on August 16, 2009 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old. George was internationally recognized as a pioneer of pedagogy for young bassists. The author of Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, a method for teaching the bass to young students, he was on the faculty of the University of Maryland, and lectured and gave clinics in Ireland, England, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Australia and throughout the United States, as well as holding his own popular annual workshop. A student of Tony Bianco and a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, he was awarded the American String Teachers Association "Citation for Outstanding Leadership and Merit" in 1990. In 1995 the International Society of Bassists presented him with a Special Recognition Award for his groundbreaking work. He held a teaching certificate from the Institut International François Rabbath. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the George Vance Young Bassists Education Fund, established in George's honor and 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. The ISB extends its deepest sympathies to George's family and students. His extended family family includes the many bassists around the world who have been inspired and influenced by his life's mission of teaching. George will live on in the memories of the students and colleagues whose lives he changed for the better. He made a difference in his too-short life, and we will miss him with all our hearts.
Luthier Carleen Hutchins passed away on August 7, 2009 at the age of 98. A former high school science teacher, she became a violinmaker well known for her body of research into the acoustics of violins, and the creation of a family of eight proportionally-sized violins, The Violin Octet. From 2002 to 2003, Hutchins’s octet was the subject of an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, “The New Violin Family: Augmenting the String Section.” Her greatest innovation, still used by many violinmakers, was a technique known as free-plate tuning. When not attached to a violin, the top and back are called free plates. Her technique gives makers a precise way to refine these plates before a violin is assembled. Hutchins was founder of the New Violin Family Association, authored more than 100 technical publications, and edited two volumes of collected papers in violin acoustics. She was the recipient of four grants from the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, two Guggenheim Fellowships, an Honorary Fellowship from the Acoustical Society of America, and four honorary doctorates. In 1963, Hutchins co-founded the Catgut Acoustical Society, which develops scientific insights into the construction of new and conventional instruments of the violin family.
The well known Uruguayan-Brazilian double bassist, Professor Milton Romay Masciadri, father of University of Georgia double bass professor Milton Masciadri, has passed away. The senior Masciadri was assistant principal bass of the OSSODRE Symphony in Uruguay and principal bass of the OSPA Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra in Brazil for more than 30 years. He was a professor of the Music institute of the Symphony Orchestra as well as member of the UNISINOS Chamber Orchestra. He was a major force for the double bass in Brazil and will be deeply missed by friends, family and his many former students.
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New in the Family
Bret Simner and his wife Emily welcomed their new son Zachary on December 8, 2009 in Basel, Switzerland. Bret reports that Zachary is already growing quickly, and that he and Emily are getting used to the new sleep schedule.
U.S. Army Blues Band bassist and composer/arranger Regan Brough and his wife Rachel welcomed their new son, Ethan, on December 22nd. He arrived weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces, and is 20 inches tall. Mother and baby are doing well and they were able to bring Ethan home on Christmas Eve!
If it’s Sunday, then ISB past president Diana Gannett must be a new grandmother! Actually, Sunday Ione Mizelle was born on Tuesday evening, October 6th, weighing in at 8 lbs 4oz with a bout of 21.5 inches. She’s a beauty!
Anna Cecelia Lardin, opus 2 for Heather Miller Lardin, artistic director of
the New York State Early Music Association and her husband Cliff, was born
Tuesday, July 28th. She tipped the scales, if you'll pardon the expression,
at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and just over 20 inches. Congratulations to Heather,
Cliff and big brother Josh.
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Scholars, Scores, and Study
CALL FOR SCORES FOR DOUBLE BASS AND OBOE DUOS: Contact Rolf Erdahl if you are a composer with works featuring double bass and oboe (including English horn doubling), you have an interest in composing works for oboe and bass, or you belong to an oboe/bass duo interested in forming a consortium to commission and perform new works. The goal is to fund commissions through grant writing. Contact Rolferd@gmail.com, telephone 765-215-1209.
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Stolen Basses
STOLEN!
Stolen from the home of Pierre Feyler near Paris, France: fine 5-string double bass with "GAND 1869" label inside, dark red varnish. Also stolen, two bows, one "Fétique" (wood repaired with metal just next to the button). The theft was targeted on the bass, and seems the work of specialists. If readers should hear anything concerning this instrument, contact the owner immediately: Pierre Feyler, +33 6 07 39 90 24, pierre.feyler@orange.fr, www.pierre-feyler.fr.
Have you seen this instrument? Double bass stolen in Cagliari, Italy on March 26, 2002. Label says “Vincenzo Lucarini, Fecit in Faentae 19840.” Height, 112 cm; lower bout width 71.05 cm; higher bout width 52 cm; band thickness 21.05 cm; neck length 42.05 cm. No corners, “pear” shape. If you have news call Rinaldo Asuni, +39 347 7882618, or email the ISB. Reward for return!
Nathan Peck's double bass was stolen from in front of his apartment building
in Jackson Heights, Queens, on Friday May 30th at around 12:50 AM as he was
returning from a gig. It was in a dark blue Soundwear gig bag. The word"Pfretzchner" is printed inside as well as a label that reads "new bass bar
and re-graduation by Kichier Bros. Pittsburgh PA (49)" and a newer one with
the name "Bill Merchant." The bass is a red/blondish color. There is a small
chip in the scroll. It also has a Fishman Full Circle on it. Nathan needs
your help in keeping an eye out for his instrument. He can be reached at
412-414-7774 (cell) or 718-565-6514 (home), or at
myspace.com/nathanpeckmusic.
Nick Urquhart's bass was stolen Thursday night, April 26, 2007, on the 200
block of 6th Ave at Main St. in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It's a 3/4 Czech-made
bass by Fiedler, serial #SBC04X3, with a spruce top and sides and rounded
maple back. Medium teak colour. The screws on the scroll are corroded.
Valued at $5,000. It was in a black Mooridian case with the bottom left
pocket missing the zipper. Inside the bag was a blue German bow case
containing two bows (one was a Prochownik). If you have news of this missing
instrument contact Nick Urquhart, nickurquhart@hotmail.com, 778/994-6425.
$2,000 REWARD FOR MISSING BASS: Sometime between 5 PM on Friday, June 10, and the morning of Saturday, June 11 at the ISB convention at the Dalton Center, Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, a large 7/8th size double bass belonging to Brian Del Bianco, ilbasso@hotmail.com, disappeared from the overnight instrument storage area. This instrument has the characteristic Tyrolean hump at the union of the ribs and the neck butt. This bass has recently been overhauled including, but not limited to the making of four new crossbars, a new bass bar, new endpin block, new bridge and sound post and a neck reset. There are two wooden dowels in the neck butt. The top is made of two-piece spruce and is cut with gamba corners-with the lower G-string side corner having been recently replaced. The ribs and flat back are made of maple. There is no purfling on this instrument. One distinguishing characteristic of this particular instrument is a new wood strip 1.5 inches wide inset into the ribs at the lower bout G-string side. The sycamore neck and scroll are original and accommodate an ebony fingerboard. There is a maple shim between the fingerboard and the neck. The brass plated tuning machines are individually mounted and have wood cores. The original varnish was a transparent reddish brown oil and is underneath the brown spirit over-varnish. The bass has several distinctive markings that can be used later for positive identification. In the time since the photos were taken, the most significant change is the addition of a brass B extension made by KC Strings (photos of extension available at www.kcstrings.com/masterlink.htm). In addition to the extension, a metal piece was added to the E string hole of the tailpiece due to the strings' inability to reach the opening. The tailpiece wire has been replaced with a black and red cord (viewable at www.mikepecanicmusic.com/catalog.html). The quiver was attached and had a few drops of dried glue splashed on one side. A Botoni bow with a german frog and black hair was in the quiver. Since the photos, the bass had been fitted with a Goetz style endpin manufactured by the Meisel company and there was a 10mm shaft Onyx brand bass wheel with the instrument. The bass was in a black Mooradian cover with a slightly modified shoulder strap. There were two extra cushions added to the strap. There was one (possibly 2) open seams near the cover's side carrying straps. The pockets' contents included a Samsonite travel bag with various bass accessories (rosin, mutes etc), a blue plastic ruler and a purple binder of orchestral excerpts. The instrument has no maker's label, but there is a penciled inscription along the instrument's back (viewable through the G string f hole) indicating a repair had been made in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. Photos may be viewed along with this description at www.imia.bravehost.com. Any information regarding this instrument's location can be sent to the ISB at info@isbworldoffice.com. $2,000 reward for return, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Can be dropped off at David Gage String Instrument Repair 36 Walker Street New York, NY 10013-3514 Telephone: (212) 274-1322 Fax: (212) 274-9634 General E-mail Address: davidgage@davidgage.com.
STOLEN! Two instruments have been stolen in the night from October 2-3 in Madrid: an Italian theorbo belonging to Christina Pluhar, +33 (0) 143461546, made by Klaus T. Jacobsen, London, 1983/99 string length 78/160 multi-rib back black case; and a violone belonging to Richard Myron, +33 (0) 140409422, rlmyron@noos.fr made by Dominik Zuchowicz Ottawa, 1996, copy of Vogel (museum of Nürnberg) with two bows in black Mooradian soft case. Please contact these musicians if you hear any news of these missing instruments.
STOLEN! On July 24, 2002, at the Milan Malpensa Airport, two German-style bass bows in a double bowcase. One is a Matthias Thomas***, firemark nearly illegible, a simple bow without learther or silver trimmings. Round stick, small frog, screw has two ridges all around and a white dot at the end. 25 years old, signs of use and wear, frog slide is silver, black hair. The other is a Dirk Loescher, leather and silver trim, octagonal stick, fairly recent and in good condition. Frog has some small dents in the ebony, black hair. Black bowcase, two handles and a strap, lined in blue velvet. Had address, phone number and picture of son inside. Contact ISB member Korneel Le Compte, Brussels, Belgium, korneellecompte@hotmail.com.
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