Gabriel Faure - Elegie in C Minor

[@clepsyd]

Thanks for the reply. I'm a cellist myself and I kind of relate the holding positions to de viola da Gamba and cello.

[@BassMeister17]

Thank you!

[@PiercedxXxCrystal]

hey! i'm working on this piece at the moment along with Faure's Sicilliene for d.bass and piano, parts of them both are tough so well done! I started on french for a couple yrs and was changed to german, i guess it depends on the individual but i feel you have more control with a german bow but my hand cramps alot with it, must be doing something wrong! Christy xXx

[@BassMeister17]

As I recall, I had the Schirmer edition, which had notes that were beyond the range of my instrument. Obviously, that wasn't going to work. And I had other repertoire that I did at pitch, so this was just a change of pace. I did the Sarabande from Suite #5 on the same recital as the Elegie at pitch. I have a recording of this in A minor and my teacher confirmed that he has played this in A minor.

[@BassMeister17]

@tarvertime Thank you!

[@BassMeister17]

Two reasons, actually. One, the edition I recieved of this piece was just the cello version literally transposed up an octave. Two, my teacher and I thought that it would be different to perform it in the original key, as it is not usually performed in this key on bass (the usual key is A minor). The extra lower string was nice, especially for the low C at the end. I just wish I had had more rosin on my bow for this and that my bow wasn't trying to slip out of my hand, s you might have seen! :)

[@rapfan228]

Oh ok... strange... I take it the part that goes off the fingerboard in that edition is the rapid notes before the climax and restatement of the original theme? on the vast majority of basses you'd need a fingerboard extension to play the high Eb the Mensch edition, which I've played, is all at cello pitch, except for that one section I mentioned, which is written down an octave to avoid going off the fingerboard

[@BassMeister17]

That is exactly where it goes too high. It is indeed kind of strange. Guess I should have bought the Mensch edition! haha

[@clepsyd]

it is interesting for me to see a bassist with french style holding of the bow. Usually everyone uses german. Is there a major difference in sound? What's the difference? Great playing! Very nice.

[@rapfan228]

hm strange... i thought the point of playing rep written for other instruments was to play as much of it in the original octaves as possible, like the Bach Cello Suites, the Paganini Caprice, the Franck Sonata, and the Swan and such lol the "original" key is C Minor, which is the original cello key... you're referring to Homer Mensch's edition, right? ive never heard of this in A Minor

[@rapfan228]

hm... why are you playing this down an octave? i'll post my version of this piece in a few weeks, then you can see

[@BassMeister17]

No real difference in sound. You have to be more conscious of your wrist/arm movements, as not to do a see-saw effect on the strings (down bow pushes the frog down, up bow pulls the frog up). Really, it's just a matter of preference. Using a french bow was more natural for me because I played the violin for 5 years before I learned the bass. Thanks!