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.
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Navona records link to album:
https://edwinbarker.com
Weinberg biography

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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

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