Thierry Barbé Interview/Performance - The Art of Expressive Bass Playing

In this video, I have the pleasure of meeting one of the classical double bass world's most esteemed artists, Thierry Barbé. Known for his work as a soloist, educator and the Principal Bassist of the Opera de Paris Orchestra, Thierry is at the forefront of the French double bass community with a worldwide reputation for excellence. As a teacher, he has given masterclasses worldwide and is the Contrabass Professor at National Superior Paris Conservatory.
In our discussion, we cover topics including:
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:09 Expressive orchestral bass playing
02:28 François Rabbath
03:52 Early studies
05:34 Bass as an extension of yourself
06:29 Vibrato
08:47 The James Bond exercise
10:43 Bowing technique
16:18 German bow
20:55 Double Bass and bow maker
27:26 Solo performance
At the end of the video, we are treated to a solo performance of the Allemande from Hans Fryba's Suite im alten Stil.
To learn more about Thierry Barbé, and for a full set of links to people and topics covered in this video, head over to: discoverdoublebass.com/interv...
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[@joshablatzheim9075]

Just marvolous!!! J'adorre le Basso Continuo ❤ Kind regards from a Classical Tenor-Violist-Panpipeflutist, From Black Forest 🇪🇺 🇩🇪,directement de la frontière 🇪🇺🇫🇷, des Vosges, saluts en la belle France 🇪🇺🇫🇷, et fasciné Paris, J.B.🙋‍♂️

[@belisarioverde2735]

Maestro Thierry, you have a magnificent way of playing the double bass! thank you very much, the lesson on vibrato and on the use of the bow, both German and French, is magnificent, congratulations!

[@jan-gerritlutgering7093]

Thank you for this interview! Always great to hear Thierry Barbé play, and interesting topics covered. I remember reading the articles on his website when I first started playing the DB, and being inspired to experiment with different bow holds.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Glad you enjoyed it! I was thrilled to meet him and loved the topics he raised, as well as his beautiful performance.

[@gaellhoumeau3973]

Merci Thierry! Merci Geoff!

[@deimosvega]

Bravo Thierry!!!!

[@rdubugnon]

FABULOUS, Thierry ! Bravissimo

[@stephenpwilson1930]

Thierry, thank you so much. Your playing at the end of this video made me cry. (a very strange thing for a 66 year old Englishman) thank you so much also for your lesson on vibrato and your use of both German as well as French bow and your different grips. I will experiment. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

[@enriqueormenovillafuerte5791]

Great Video, Thanks!!!

[@panurgeceline]

Extremely interesting on french bass school. Wonderful bassist!

[@elainetaylor534]

Thank you Thierry, very interesting. Thanks also to you Geoff for making this interview happen!

[@ebgbass]

Food for the soul! Thank you!!

[@andresdelafuente3783]

👍🙂 thank you!!

[@romblik6005]

Thank you.

[@renaudeychenne4252]

Merci !!!! Very nice moment ! Thanks for sharing ;)

[@fruitypebbles803]

Super informative! ❤

[@user-ki1cz4lw4g]

Спасибо! Очень познавательно!

[@emilienpottier5467]

Great interview and incredible playing!!!

[@themusiccovenant]

Excellent 👌

[@Ilja-oblomow]

Very good observation and comparison between Starker and Rostropovitch. Speaking of cellists, Daniil Schafran, just like Mr. Barbé, not only uses pronation but also the fingers to achieve a constant change (timbre) with the bow. See e.g. his Vocalise here on KZbin. Singers achieve this change by changing the inner shape of the mouth, which activates different overtones. Thanks for this fantastic lesson!

[@peterboxberg3664]

Wonderful! An interview between 3 personalities, the third being the double bass. Playing joy that conveys so, no one can resist

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Thank you so much :-)

[@quezquez3084]

Beatiful playing.

[@Guylangloisartist]

Amazing Thank you for this

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Glad you like it. Meeting Thierry was a joy!

[@homerfernandez2342]

I learn a lot in bowing left and right technique

[@steveleeatfullmeasure]

Wonderful! And almost a masterclass. Such an expressive player.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Couldn't agree more! :-) He's one of the best!

[@steveleeatfullmeasure]

@@DiscoverDoubleBass thanks for the introduction!

[@Threlgar]

Wonderful Interview!! How does he get SUCH a clean bounce sound up on the lower end of the fingerboard?? Totally amazing!!

[@markorukavina1143]

Now we have an idea about bow hold Lorraine Campet uses... ❤

[@daviddanielsson3643]

Loved the interview and the playing. I actually learned things, even though I'm not completely new on the instrument. :)

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

That's great! Thanks for watching :-)

[@horsthenn]

Danke!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Thank you so much! I'm delighted you enjoyed it and appreciate your support. :-)

[@luigiluigi1652]

🙏🙏🙏

[@joyrowland3265]

I have found that i cannot go past a "normalish" speed. I'm assuming that the more you practice and train your muscles, your muscles will be eventually be controlled enough to start going faster. Also, I tend to struggle with vib in passages that move between notes and with louder dynamics. (For instance, I struggle with the half notes in Ein Heldenleben 9.

[@ulis3082]

Beautiful. In around 30:50 you mention the endpinstop. And that you will leave a link. Unfortunately i can´t anderstand the name of the maker right and can´t find it. Please can you give us the link?

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

In our videos there’s always a link in the description to a webpage with a full set of links 👍

[@ricardosilva5379]

Where can one find those rubber tubes that Mr. Barbé has in his bow?

[@PerfectWoodGrain]

OMFG the cameraman doesn't show HIS BOW HAND!!! Unbelievable.

[@HBSuccess]

He’s hearing nuance in his playing that is not actually there !! C’est tres impossible!!