BRAHMS • Scherzo (from F.A.E sonata, 1853) • Božo Paradžik (double bass), Maria Sofianska (piano)

Recorded in Prague 2023 on September 22, in the Bohuslav Martinů Hall of the HAMU
Performed by Božo Paradžik, double bass
and Maria Sofianska, piano
Impressive early Brahms' masterpiece. He composed this powerful movement in age of 20 and it should have been a part of the sonata composed by three composers, after an idea by Robert Schumann. The sonata was a present for Joseph Joachim, who became later a legendary violinist. Brahms wrote later plenty of pieces for J. Joachim. Joachim kept the manuscript of the F.A.E. sonata and allowed during his lifetime only for Scherzo to be printed and published.
I've listened this piece on radio when I was 16. It fascinated me and I got a powerful wish to play it on my double bass. I wrote down the music by hearing (I didn't find any printed music) and tried to play it - in average an octave lower than in this video - and it was very disappointing, how badly it sounded when I've tried it, LOL. So there we are again, almost 40 years later, now I've finally converted my old dream into the reality. Tuning of the double bass here is: cGDA, with high C string (in fourths). I doubt any other tuning will work for this composition.
#beautifulmusic #romanticmusic #brahms #doublebass

[@limitstoprogress]

Superb double-bass technique! Perfectly played, Bravo! Greetings from Canada!

[@paulfrantzis1]

For me, the way he plays this movement is simply spectacular in that it stirs your emotions from beginning to end. That is the most important part of any performance. Of course his technique and tone are flawless!!!

[@davidmaslow2931]

Wonderful!

[@goranpiljic9362]

Hi Božo! I'm sorry I wasn't able to come for a visit in Lucerne so far, but I always watch your new uploads with delight. I hope you're doing well. At least it sounds like it 😊

[@luigiluigi1652]

Everything here is great... Sound technique rendition... Bravo

[@SilvioNobre]

Magnificent! ❤️😍

[@bozoparadzikcom]

@@SilvioNobre thank you 🥰

[@amysscentsandsongs]

Hello Božo, this is fantastic! ❤

[@bozoparadzikcom]

@@amysscentsandsongs 🙂 thank you so much, I'm glad you like it

[@mikecurtis2585]

Wow always sounding amazing! Have a wonderful day!!!

[@Kontrabass_basso]

Very cool…😎😎😎

[@bozoparadzikcom]

@@Kontrabass_basso 🤗 thank you

[@Kontrabass_basso]

@@bozoparadzikcom Maestro! Ich kann mir ziemlich darüber vorstellen, dass dieses Stück mit Kontrabass echt schwer ist! Gratuliere!!!

[@LoredanaT100]

Amazing! Wonderful 🌹

[@bozoparadzikcom]

@@LoredanaT100 😍😍😍😍😍

[@fortissimoX]

As always, great performance by Bozo, thanks for sharing! Btw, I feel that soloists like you should use five string double bass with added top C string.. And a little technical suggestion, bass should be just a tiny bit louder in the mix. At some places piano is overpowering it. Thanks again!

[@abraxalito]

I agree - perhaps the raised floor is conducting too much sound from piano to the mic via the mic stand also resting on the raised floor. Could explain why the piano bass notes are sometimes too over-powering. A suspended mic might solve this issue.

[@bozoparadzikcom]

@@fortissimoX I kind of like when the mix is realistic. The piano part is in this piece very massive, I don't like unnatural mix proportions. It is also important to use good quality speakers for the right balance. I hope it helps 🤗