ROTA, Nino

Divertimento concertante for double bass and orchestra (double bass and piano reduction)

III. Aria

Wies De Boevé, guest professor

Erick Martínez Olivo, student

Jesús Gómez Madrigal, accompanying pianist

At the beginning of the masterclass, the professor gives general indications about dynamics and colour of the harmonics in a specific passage close to the end of the piece. There is also a brief introduction about the work and the circumstances of its composition –it was commissioned for the film Dr. Zhivago. The professor describes the atmosphere and the character of the scene: first mysterious, then the light comes little by little, and finally it turns painful.
About sound balance, the soloist has to be heard in the moments in which the orchestra plays louder. In a certain passage, it is advisable not to play it as a scale exercise, but more appassionato and with more vibrato (the professor plays the passage to show the student how to do it). The professor also gives some additional comments and corrections about pizzicato, phrasing, harmonics changes and articulation.

Language: English