Giovanni Bottesini: Elegy in C Major

Sharif Ibrahim: Double Bass, Andrew Downs: Piano
Recorded on 6/28/20 in Bloomington, IN

[@Threlgar]

VERY nicely done!! Nice also to see it memorized, allowing to get away from the page and into the heart!!

[@Sharifibrahim501]

The piece has been in my heart for a while! Memorization is crucial.

[@steveshaw2784]

Dang! Are you like 50 years old and have been playing that thing for 40 years??? That was just beautiful...went with my morning coffee...couldn't have been more perfect. Thank you! Kudos to your accompanist too! Good pairing.

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Both the pianist and I are very familiar with the piece having studied and performing it before. He was once a bass player before becoming a conductor! We put a lot of thought into the interpretation because I always felt that is commonly “overcooked” when performed. I’d love to re record it it and polish some things but overall I think that it reflects a more simple and relaxed mood.

[@mrbluemoose4296]

Amazing rendition of the piece! It’ll be helpful for me to have a good reference recording that’s not in solo tuning as well

[@cadepeckham167]

Man sounds great. I just started working on it maybe 2 - 3 weeks ago and it helps a lot to have a recording without solo tuning. So thanks man, really appreciate it. Keep up the good work!

[@chelsieglover8799]

Beautiful! One of my favorites!

[@andrewgrandahl]

Sounds great!!

[@angeloloisi4256]

Bravo, very nice tone and musicality

[@Deeparabesque66]

Most moving elegia ever ...my dad use to play this

[@Sharifibrahim501]

It is a beautiful piece of music. I am happy that it could bring back such memories. Thanks for watching, Sharif.

[@DeleynGunter]

The importance of the double bass is underestimated. It is crucial for the support of the melody, the basso continuo.

[@bettinagoessler2974]

Thanks a lot for sharing! Very elegantly done, hope I'll ever get even half as good as you.

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Everyone is on their own journey :) The only goal is to be better than you were the day before.

[@Salathielito]

This is amazing.

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Thanks Sal

[@Bass_Hyun]

very soft and beautiful. It feels new. It was very good.

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Glad you enjoyed. Thank you

[@Joe_Everett]

Yay, Sharif! Great playing!

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Thanks Joe!

[@jeanpierre_bajista]

QUE GENIAL sigue asi uwu

[@tubase12]

Very nice , really

[@angelsosa3244]

bravisimo

[@franciscotiagodejesuslopes6527]

🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@user-so1bk7io6n]

For personal use Measure 4: 0:40

[@aplace2be214]

Good job

[@franciscotiagodejesuslopes6527]

🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@pennhoffert]

I’m trying to order the book so I can give it to my accompanist, what book did you use

[@pennhoffert]

Do you have any tips on how to make the large jumps smoother and faster like at 0:34

[@Sharifibrahim501]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmaziIigl9dsfrM

[@Sharifibrahim501]

There are many ways. We have to practice scales and arpeggios in order to first understand the distance we are traveling, then give the shift context. If it’s lyrical it has to be connected, so you practice the connection between the two notes by sliding into the top or bottom note exactly at the moment you intend to. So generally you end up practicing bigger shifts quite slow until you are confident enough to find the note every time - then you add the context/rhythm in to the shift and add the other notes from the passage around it. You’ll also find that distances you are shifting are usually pretty consistent - certain intervals like 6ths and octaves are pretty common so you’ll start to run into them in other pieces as well.

[@andreashoppe1969]

Very nice! Do you know where I can get the sheets in C-Major (Piano parts). Thanks!

[@Musicman914]

Fantastic tutorial wow. Please if anybody could give me their fingering options for me first 12 bar's or so. I would be so very grateful I'm having a private war with myself and all the different ways to approach this peice.

[@no-tb4ec]

Algo bien

[@amekitty8913]

is it possible to play this standing up?

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Of course! Watch Leon Bosch!

[@amekitty8913]

@@Sharifibrahim501 I tried to do it standing but I seem to get tense while in thumb position :/ maybe its just me

[@Sharifibrahim501]

There may be a few reasons for that: Work on finding balance with the bass in every position. Try playing a note in each octave or register of the instrument and take notes on what you have to physically change in order to make it feel good. We have to adapt to the instrument a bit more when standing. Also, watch bass players that stand and try some different setups. Good luck!

[@amekitty8913]

@@Sharifibrahim501 Thank you, do you have any tips for fingerings on this? sorry im asking so much questions

[@francem.124]

Where did you get your piece? Its hard to play in D major

[@Sharifibrahim501]

Hello, sometimes bass music is played in a key like C major, but called D major because of solo tuning. This elegy is ALWAYS played in C major, and if you play in solo tuning it will “sound in D major”. This means the bass player does nothing differently but the pianist will be playing in D major. The sheet music for this can be easily found online in C major. Good luck!

[@francem.124]

@@Sharifibrahim501 now i know hahahahha thanks