Mastering the Bow (Part 2: Spiccato)

Description

Double Bass — Gaelen McCormick’s book on spiccato is an extraordinarily thorough exploration of many descriptionsof the “how” and of the “what and when” of this particular bowing technique. The first eleven pages ofquotes from famous pedagogues Ivan Galamian and Simon Fischer defining the vocabulary of spiccatostrokes, coupled with her detailed definitions and suggestions on how to envision and produce each kindof bow stroke, are invaluable and extremely clear.The collections of etudes from Dotzauer, Kreutzer, Lee and Popper are enticing additions to the morefamiliar (perhaps not often practiced) Billè, Slama, Simandl and Bottesini etudes, and will fascinatebassists and encourage exploration of these necessary combinations of bow strokes. Etudes by Palaschkoand Milde were unfamiliar to me and made me want to pick up my bow to try them.In Etude No. 24 (Slur and Spiccato) Gaelen makes an excellent point about starting a spiccato aftera slur: “Clip the last note of the slur to help resume spiccato.” It is virtually impossible to play a slurdirectly into a note that is staccato or off the string: many students are puzzled by this at first, and it isgood to have the information that it is permissible (necessary!) to “steal” a bit of the length of the slur inorder to have the bow slightly in the air to attack the separate note.This book is a gold-mine of helpful information and inspiration. It will be a great addition to FredZimmermann’s Contemporary Concept of Bowing. Each etude is short enough to inspire and longenough to do what needs to be done. Continuing her masterful series, Carl Fischer Music is proud to present Gaelen McCormick's Mastering the Bow (Part 2) Studies for Bass: Spiccato. Beginning with quotes from famous pedagogues Ivan Galamian and Simon Fischer, spiccato strokes are defined and each variety of bow-stroke is examined and elaborated upon in detail. Collections of etudes have been carefully selected and presented from the methods of Dotzauer, Kreutzer, Lee, Popper, Bille, Slama, Simandl, Bottesini, Palschko and Milde. Guidelines are provided for studies, as well as extensive instruction on all aspects of spiccato playing.