Edgar Meyer - 3rd movement - Amalgamations for Solo Bass

[poquitohippie]

I watched him play this sitting about 8 feet away from him at a master class in Pittsburgh. He's absolutely brilliant.

[PaintedRavensong]

This is incredible!!!  Oh my god!

[cja245]

This is really great.

Do you play any instruments Dave?

[theblasto]

@cja245 I played the clarinet in school, but that's it. Two of my siblings, however, are accomplished musicians. They never let me forget it.

[75egcg]

@theblasto Maybe, but you're ignoring the fact that there's a story in the bible where YOU defeated a giant named goliath. You could always rub that in their face....Unless it was a different david.

[quaintandarduous]

no vibrato. 

[theblasto]

@quaintandarduous That's all part of the beauty of this piece. Makes it all the more creepy/exciting. :D

[cjonesdemetri]

@quaintandarduous And yet, it still sounds exactly as it should. To each their own. Negative comments like your's are the reason why I hesitate to get on this website occasionally. What a beautiful piece of art.

[quaintandarduous]

@cjonesdemetri  negitive?

[TheRockdoctor54]

@quaintandarduous this piece doesn't really warrant vibrato... I've seen him live and trust me, he has the best vibrato there is; subtle... too much, and not very tasteful vibrato is in my opinion the number one mistake that good string players make... they wobble the good sound right out of the music

[TheRockdoctor54]

that's all you can think to say? of course he uses vibrato, it's just that he doesn't warble it to death like most string players do... and only uses it when the note calls for it... get your head out of the prison classical music currently has it in

[andecko]

monster player

[joshfieldstbone]

I love how you see him in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt, and then with suspenders. Classic. That said, he's just... I'm not even going to put words to it, I'm sure anyone listening knows what I'm talking about. :)

[giridhar1729]

Amazing! Loved it... Surprisingly similar to a piece rendered on Indian Classical Violin by L.Subramaniam. (can't remember the name of the piece but it's on one of the two albums: Electric Modes 1 or Electric Modes 2)

Please do listen to them if you get a chance to... L.Subramaniam is a genius!

[sxmadrid]

If Edgar keeps practising his next bass won't need inlays. Inspirational tune, great upload.

[mcbass33]

@sxmadrid

If you have ever watched Edgar play; you would know that he mostly plays with his eyes closed and his intonation is more accurate than any other bassist I have ever heard. Who cares if he has inlays!!

[sxmadrid]

@mcbass33 The Decentralised Committee for the Uninformed Judgement of Greatness (TARDS) as yet scores negatively for bass inlays, but may score positively for playing blind. As it goes, I have seen EM – Madrid, with Bela Fleck and Zakir Hussein. I didn’t notice the open-to-close ratio, but I agree that his skill is unsurpassed, and he's a hugely creative musician. Peace to you!

[MicahXcore]

@sxmadrid

 u kiddin me

[gonzacarmele]

este tipo es un sanatero tremendo

[youchiatube]

@Muzikman127 i was really just kidding around. anyone that good can play however the hell they want for all i care haha

[syco50]

i dont think that he put the inlays there, the bass was just built like that

[wallaceX2jc]

He made me feel so bad, he sounds so gooooood

[Shevayeb]

Its actually not that hard to learn ur way without markers, just gotta play a lot :)

[llamasrage]

Definitely, i play electric bass and it's not that hard to feel your way around the fretboard of an upright to get used to it

[UnderTheBamboooTree]

possible, but try using a bow once, and you'll notice that what you thought was spot on, is way off :)

[ImpliedLogic]

@UnderTheBamboooTree

No kidding. The bow reveals EVERYTHING! I only wish to be half as good as I was when I was playing in school, many years ago. I won't even insult Edgar by comparing my playing to his. I prefer to sit in silence and absorb him.

[ChrisJefferiesMusic]

Yup, its all muscle memory

[youchiatube]

@Shevayeb i agree. i mean if your really gonna play upright bass, man up and learn where the notes are haha

[wallaceX2jc]

it's actually if you know how to set the ur end pin at the correct height (first finger eye level), rest is all muscle memory and adjusting with your ear

[Muzikman127]

@youchiatube give me a break. If he prefers to have markers then who gives a shit really- if it sounds that good then does it matter whether he likes to have the dots or not?

[youchiatube]

@Muzikman127 i was really just kidding around. anyone that good can play however the hell they want for all i care haha

[Kunstdesfechtens]

My only complaint about fingerboard markers is that it's hard to find a bass that has them! If I bought an upright, damn stright I'd have them put in. :)

[baycman]

use "whiteout" and a tuner... works great!! and can be removed or relocated as you may reset the bridge position.

jp (past stanford jazz workshop bass faculty)

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Uncommon Ritual probably has some of the greatest performances on the double bass ever recorded, IMO. Edgar rules. :)

[theblasto]

Agreed. Uncommon Ritual is a deserted island CD for me. :)

[nagger75]

@theblasto i used that sentence yesterday! its one of the ones i can't live without

[supriya55]

holly molly! the way it picks up!!

so thankful for these senheissers right now

[bass297]

anyone with derogatory comments about the inlays should be forced to make it a video response with Bass and Bow in hand.

[theblasto]

I agree. I will only be accepting comments about inlays in the form of video responses. :)

[jlew180l]

He needs to get some Gibson Les Paul inlays.

[venskus2009]

@bass297 i hear you. i need one at the twelfth interval, octave and closed string marker. i always miss that barely. no idea why.

[manny75586]

@bass297 do they get to make the video with a bass with note markers on it as well? ;) In all seriousness, it is not as illegitimate a criticism as you are making it out to be. It takes some of the musicianship out of playing the instrument. That said, he still has to create the sound and his tone and touch are unquestionably great. As my teacher said once, if the markers make him 5-10% better as a bassist, he is still one of the best bassists in the world. Whatever works you should do.

[s1sherlock]

Ahhh, fantastic. Thanks for posting this.

[poliboardthemovie]

I bet Meyer could switch hands and close his eyes and still out play everyone of the people on here complaining about the inlays. ha.

[blakewdm]

Dude, im not even gonna argue with you, wait yes I am.

I guarantee that that is him puffing his chest about how good he is( which he is godly good) But he also says that the dots are good for the last 5% on intonation securtiy

[monkeysnail]

yeah, those markers are definitely just to drive "purists" mad. watch some live videos, you'll notice that he plays with his eyes closed a lot anyway.

[FunnyGuy215329]

Beatiful Sound! WERY wonderful

[agarfield2004]

He didn't put the markers in there himself. That bass is from the 1700's. He got it in the 80's I believe.

[Woundtootight]

The Mother of Pearl inlays on the Gabrielli are there for fun, guys, nothing else. Edgar had them put in....to play head games...:)

[blakewdm]

No they are to help, its a legitimate thing though. Trust me, anyone who has any sense of intelligence doesn't "play head games with themselves"

[Woundtootight]

blakewdm:

Edgar himself told an interviewer that the reason the marks were inlaid was to 'mess' with the purists. No big deal, anyway...

[kontrabassman]

This is a great song. I am suprised that you guess have never known professionals to use these markings on their bass. Numbers of professionals use markings. It is not uncommon

[japa1990]

Does edgar use markers on the fingerboard? the second to last image has him playing his bass and the neck has like those markers that electric basses have.

[wallaceX2jc]

On electric basses, you can just feel it by finger, but markers on double bass, you have to physically look back to see where at, which it'll look really dumb on stage if you were playin' in the half to the third position. From that picture, I guess that was the bass he borrowed from a beginner lol.

[japa1990]

Yeah I also though that was a borrowed bass, its just pathetic if a professional like edgar was playing with those markings.

[CosmikDebris7]

That's funny you say that because it's not a borrowed bass, it's his. I've seen Edgar live, and trust me, the fact that he has markers on his bass in no way, shape, or form, detracts from the experience that IS edgar meyer.

Do you honestly think this man uses it as a crutch?

[japa1990]

I know edgar meyer lol, and no, I dont honestly think this man uses it as a crutch. I just find it WEIRD that someone his level is using a bass with markings.

[wallaceX2jc]

Tapes/markings in my opinion is kinda like cheating. Sure you'll sound better. It's like looking someone else's scantron when taking an exam, my grades will be better. I only used tapes in my first year of playing, then I took em' off because I think it's time to move on. I met Edgar Meyer live, also. In a bass work shop in Vegas, I think he's a really calm person, and I do not think he uses tape at all. THAT MUST BE BORROW BASS! I'll lose so much respect towards him if he really used them.

[japa1990]

Yeah I thoughts so too, its just so bizarre that a pro like him would use that.

[bopeuph]

You probably don't use the whole fingerboard like Meyer does. The way he puts it, is there is about three feet of wood sitting there, and you're expected to hit the note right in tune. He isn't cheating. It's more like a just-in-case. Ever played somewhere and couldn't hear yourself? Either way, it's really the end result that matters.

[theblasto]

I'm starting to think I should have made this video with a blank screen the whole time.

More listeny.

Less looky.

:D

[mrkrauley]

I've always said. Nashville pays Edgar a lot of money to play in tune the first time around. The dots are totally acceptable and sensible.

[corsair982]

No that is his bass. Google him and check the pictures on his website. Looks to me like those dots are in the fingerboard in mother of pearl or something similar to that.

[zensorrow1]

Five completely different atmospheres in the one movement

[LNcello]

True - this man "oozes" double bass (double bass lovers' heaven, frightening mastery of the instrument!), and at the same time, what he does is far beyond the instrument.

[theblasto]

When he was younger, Meyer brought a double bass to a fiddle contest.... and won. (true story) :)

The double bass in general is under-utilized, which is a shame. It has more versatility than a piano.

[Scherzo567]

When I first saw Edgar Meyer perform, I was never before so astounded by any musicians' sheer talent, virtuosity, and musicianship. Violin, cello, bass; it doesn't matter. Meyer is among the greatest musicians to ever live.

Thank you for posting this incredible piece! Indeed, this is something more people need to know about.

[Alexjr1543]

I don't know who's better-- Edgar Meyer or Yo Yo Ma...

[theblasto]

Let's call it a draw, since they play different instruments. :)

[riceboii101]

They obviously dont care about whos better than eachother there close friends.its about the music man.

[Alexjr1543]

I know that. I'm just saying he's as good as Yo Yo Ma. I should really be more careful of how I word something...

[wildbassplayer]

yea u rly should faggot

[theblasto]

You're fantastic. From you nonsensical use of a derogatory word, to the misspellings, to the complete lack of punctuation. You're the complete package, you fucktarded douche bag.

(See that? Calling you a 'fucktarded douche bag' sorta made sense there, because you're a unintelligent jerk that nobody really likes. 'Faggot' made no sense whatsoever, as none of the comments were homosexual in any way. Try again.)

[wildbassplayer]

All in a day's work! Thank you!

:D

[ElJuapeador]

God, I love the part where he plays the same licks repeated over and over, but does them each time on a different string so the tone color changes each time.

SUCH A BADASS.

[catboy3462]

holy crap.. hes amazing haha

[delmarcollege]

I bought Dreams of Flight on vinyl back in 1987 or thereabouts. Even though I no longer play double bass, I still love the sound of Mr. Meyer's playing. I still own his first two LPs. Great great stuff ...

[xxMuttonsxx]

Awesome. Would it be possible for you to post more of his music/playing?

[theblasto]

I just might, considering there is a lack of Meyer on youtube that doesn't involve yo-yo ma or either a mandolin or banjo. :D Not that I have any problem with any of those.

[xxMuttonsxx]

Neither do I, but I like the pure bass, with superior quality.

[OtherWorld]

I noticed that, Thanks.

[mcnaire2004]

where would someone get the music for this?

[theblasto]

Do you mean the album or the sheet music? The sheet music I don't know. This is from the album "Uncommon Ritual" which is Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall and Bela Fleck. This is maybe the only track where only Edgar plays. And I've looked for YEARS to try and find the rest of "Amalgamations for Solo Bass". I'm starting to think it doesn't exist. :(

[robinbrawley]

I'm listening to the moderato from Amalgamations for solo bass on his cd Dreams of Flight right now which is solo pizz. Good luck finding that cd however, its been out of print for a long time now...

[theblasto]

Holy cow! I never heard of that album. I've just found and purchased my own new copy. Someone on eBay was selling it. :D Thanks so much for the tip!

[Arianela]

I just learned of his existence when I heard his own composition.."B1"..played with yoyoma and a violinist O'Connor (I think.) Lots of

satisfying LOW notes. Not, alas, on youtube.

Is there a youtube wish list?

[theblasto]

Haha, a wishlist would be great. If YouTube only had a suggestion box. :P

[Arianela]

The last notes were my favorites simply because they were the LOWEST. Thanks for

sharing this.

[theblasto]

He certainly seems to get the range of an entire orchestra out of that instrument. It's entertaining to see him playing those high notes in person, when he's leaning so far forward that he has to lift a leg off the floor. :)