Mikyung Sung | Double Bassist Profile

all things double bass - doublebasshq.com
double bass merch - shop.doublebasshq.com/merch
double bass sheet music - shop.doublebasshq.com
Mikyung Sung shares her thoughts on the future of the double bass and performs Bottesini Concerto No 2. Concert footage from the 2nd International Bradetich Competition
/ mikyung.soung
bradetichfoundation.org
video footage from Jack Unzicker
www.jackunzicker.com/

[@garycoates4987]

her notes are so warm and resonant her technique is so fluid just perfect

[@dannyliu8866]

well put!

[@XaviBasser]

She makes it look easy. Incredible player.

[@mikeralff8238]

I can feel every note she's playing... great music and musicianship.

[@hk415]

it’s been hard to find solo bass player performances let alone ones performing alongside an orchestra ... feeling super inspired by this ✨

[@keidot2.058]

this is so true :/

[@nicgundy]

Makes me proud she's part of the bass family!! Passion is the best secret weapon in performance

[@romanjaviergiordano]

I'm amazed... this is really REALLY difficult to play, but she makes it look so easy and elegant and expressive.

[@maddie3651]

Her hands just glide across the fingerboard beautifully

[@Capuzzi09]

Wow. Just - wow! This is by far the best version I have ever heard of this composition, and I have really heard a lot. I am a professional double bass player myself, for more than 30 years. I'm not bad at all, but I am far from being as talented as Mikyung Seong obviously is. However, this made me keep a close eye on great talents for many years and what we see here is outstanding on so many levels. Her intonation is indescribably good! Outstanding finger and bow technique, which seems so playful, as if she had never done anything else in her life but play the double bass - I am speechless. But as if that weren't already enough, this - in my eyes - incomparable bass player is able to play this technically and conditionally very demanding composition not only with astonishing ease, but also with incredibly soulful feeling and unbelievably rich sound. Never before have I been allowed to listen to this concert with so much emotional depth - never before. Thank you for this outstanding experience. I'm very looking forward what we will hear from this great bassist in the future. Simply great! Mikyung Seong, please consider me your biggest fan from today on. :)

[@ModusVivendiMedia]

Get in line! 😁 And welcome to her fan club. Don’t miss her website, especially the featured videos page. There is also a SoundCloud with some good tracks, especially Bolero, Moses Fantasy, and Carmen Fantasy. The level of casual virtuosity and natural expression is astounding. (Also, look out for some upcoming releases... an album and streaming singles may be on their way soon...)

[@discogoth]

Right!!! I’m most impressed by how naturally she moves with the bass. A lot of us that are on the petite side often have to make adjustments in technique to play without injury. But her technique is absolutely flawless and looks so easy & comfortable.

[@origenak5495]

05:29 = mama mia !!!!!!!!!

[@daisytheunicornTV]

She is the best bassist Ive ever seen and heard in classical double bass. It looks and sounds smooth and effortless. Bravo. Im a fan. from Chris.

[@alexandrebrasil2845]

My favorite player. Her bow arm is amazing and her interpretation is inspiring

[@christinagilkes3499]

How are her hands not falling off now? She maintains so much endurance and strength throughout her solo pieces.

[@plippleplop]

Wow....my eyes are filled with water from the great joy of music she expresses on this amazing instrument. I play the electric bass guitar, but not even one millionth of the talent she possesses! Incredible!

[@Katie-pz7hq]

Her instrument sounds so strong, sweet and supple.

[@GAK1atatt]

Tremendous talent. She did a triple flip and stuck the landing! I understand she will be performing this in the next Olympics on ice skates. Beautiful playing, with a lot of soul. Good luck to her.

[@mrbluemoose4296]

One of my favorite recordings of this piece!

[@arrau08]

Wow, overall a really touching performance, and her cadenza is sooo colorful.

[@druiditbeauPT]

Have been playing contrabass for more than a decade, and this performance was amazing! I'm still trying to get better and I'm now practicing 6/7 days a week, atleast 3 hours a day, doing the best I can to get to the point where my life is just doublebass.

[@theodorewhite164]

Outstanding on every level!

[@kaikessler3661]

I'm playing for 44 years But I am not able to play like you Love you ❤️

[@doublebasshq]

Thanks, Kai!

[@moi_-re9up]

Absolutely. Amazing.

[@sandungabass6666]

Technique and intonation out of this world, I love her playing. She is a big inspiration for every Bass player and other musicians also

[@coolcool2521]

*Very well! Fantastic! This is just great!*

[@alanhope8971]

Astoundingly beautiful. I could listen to this a thousand times.

[@michaeldavis1259]

Absolutely Brilliant!!!!

[@danielscheinhaus5210]

Wonderful playing!

[@ChristophGAP]

This sounds so beautiful. Strings that reach the soul. Very well done!

[@mreijo]

Sounds great!

[@jip8793]

Beautiful sound and phrasing.

[@grzegorzjandulski2699]

she ist just amazing..

[@danielscheinhaus5210]

Mikyung Soung or Sung -- There doesn't seem to be agreement on the spelling of her name when transliterated from the Korean alphabet to the English -- is, I believe, to be the best double bassist I've heard, and I heard a good number of superb double bassists. She's the only one who moves me emotionally. It's not just her perfect intonation, fingering and bowing. She's so expressive! Ka' am sa ham nyi da, Mikyung!

[@matthewv789]

Even she had some confusion, initially using Soung for several years (as did her brother), but for the last two years or so, she, her brother, and father have all settled on “Sung.” I have no idea why the change.

[@grandmestredespoulpes2435]

One year after : the litteral spelling of her name in modern romanized version is "Seong Mi-Kyeong" where "oe" is an open "o" like when you pronounce the word "offer" for example, but before 2000 the romanized system was different and Seong was romanized as Sŏng , or "Soung" to replace the caron (the accent on the o) like in japanese romanization. So why Soung to Sung and not Seong ? I have no idea hahaha ! But for what I know most of the time there is a mix between personal preferences and the fact that "Sung" is more naturally correct on the reading compared to "Soung" and "Seong" often read "Sae-ong" by non korean speakers Aaaaand for what I see in her name 성미경 you have the letters ㅓ(eo) and ㅕ(yeo) so it's a way to keep to same letter between "u" and "yu".

[@brattingprincess]

@@matthewv789 It depends on her passport. In 2010 under the new romanization rules it should be Seong. However personal names are whatever people want to spell them as.

[@Alice-gr1kb]

@@grandmestredespoulpes2435 it could be because Anglophones will read it like /sʌŋ/ easier than they would read like that

[@edmondpark853]

SOUNG and SUNG are two different last name in Korea, Soung is 송 . Sung is 성. Sung is correct one. 성미경.

[@dimhelmet]

Amazing!

[@d7gi]

she makes it look effortless. I can’t even play a d on g string without squeaking ;-;

[@andreacoronarte]

lol same

[@pretty.groovy]

Relatable lol

[@gregoryf4186]

That's sad

[@salvat3735]

Plus, this concerto is written for 3 string bass, and playing it in 4 or 5 string basses can be harder in some passages

[@Milan____]

my open strings don't sound as clean as she does in like 32th notes in 6th position 😀

[@nichurman6028]

This tiny woman is amazeballs.

[@patrickclark223]

Wonderful performance! Great phrasing, shifting, and mastery of intonation.

[@edmundlehmann5481]

Wonderful !

[@ZWONCE]

I dont have words, this is simple amazing!!!!!

[@julievertongomes9242]

Incredible player!

[@bradnelson8079]

Awesome!

[@edmundlehmann5481]

Wonderful

[@rodigao93]

great job!!!

[@nemo227]

I have always had special admiration for delicate looking female bass players who played SO MUCH BETTER than I have ever played. They seem to have super powers in their hands.

[@nonosquare1066]

hello again nemo

[@nemo227]

@@nonosquare1066 You made me smile. Again. I try to be on good behavior because we never know who we'll encounter or where it will be . . . far from home.

[@nonosquare1066]

@@nemo227 ok.

[@ffionwalker6753]

Why girls

[@nemo227]

@@ffionwalker6753 Read and analyze my comment.

[@ermannododaro]

Che meraviglioso stile! What a wonderful way of playing! Una grande artista. A great artist.

[@rustemgabdullin44]

Очень музыкально, прекрасный звук, интонация.Bravo, Mikyung Soung!

[@martarenardowitsch3634]

Wow!!! Wow!!!!! So wowwwwwwww! Bravissimo

[@JazzIvan07]

Wooow, what a nice articulations!

[@KaraCamilleDelonas]

Thank you for inspiring me

[@KellyWayar]

¡¡¡¡Que belleza!!!! Felicidades hermosa interpretación.

[@ALEXANDER49668]

Признателен и восхищён!

[@jurajuraj70]

Love her. I feel so embarrassed that I play the same concerto or better to say that I am trying to play it. I want to play it same as she.

[@dic_chocolate1282]

Jiri Jura Holec Holec you can play better she sounds really good but if u want to then u can possibly play it better

[@gremlin282]

You probaly play it much better now. Practice makes perfect, but there is never perfection. There are always ways to improve even if they are in the smallest most minute ways. I like Turtles

[@p0cketnoodles]

Beautiful

[@rosenelflores7560]

Amazing

[@Ale-rc8oo]

Grazie! Forse il miglior concerto di Bottesini che abbia mai ascoltato...

[@andreaomedei2647]

Alessandro Barattini hai proprio ragione Lei è incredibile

[@keidot2.058]

this is beautiful

[@davidhart7054]

Wonderful virtuosity. Beautiful deep, rich sound.

[@karoly5795]

Kivalosag!!!!!!

[@najatrable]

미소를 머금으면서 눈물을 흘리게 하는 연주입니다. 한국인이기에 고맙습니다.

[@sebastianpizarro8404]

is amazing.

[@raulramirez1493]

Muy bien. Excelente 😍👏👏👏

[@Windcolors]

FULL..... of Emotions

[@primary-doctor]

Very impressive !!

[@francescosimmarano2410]

My congratulations !! i graduate in double bass in 1982 to matera (Italy) Bottesini is my favourite. My whies fot the future Francesco

[@jeanlouiscarlotti1670]

she s amazing .......music music .........

[@louispetrucciani4352]

Un son remarquable à l'archet , une très grande musicienne !

[@fanfulla1000]

che suono e che espressione......non ho parole....solo una sublime......

[@alexlopnie4093]

me encanta lo claras que se oyen las notas

[@deniferia3016]

HERMOSO

[@bbf180]

Классно играет! Молодчинка. Браво. )

[@zoi9980]

아름답다 마음이 함께 녹아요..

[@borachoi6085]

Double bass players look like they’re fairies dancing with tiny small miniature violins.. tho the music touches very deeply inside me

[@xanthefai]

I wish I was..

[@olliecrabtree]

When I listen to the bass it makes me feel very unexplainably emotional. It is a beautiful instrument. I was just starting to think I was getting good and then you see a profesional like this. It blows my mind. 😍

[@koshersalaami]

Violins are a different shape. They come from different families of instruments. Bass comes from the viols. That’s why the sloping shoulders and underhand bowing ( German)

[@borachoi6085]

@brog The player looks like violin-sized fairy in my universe

[@danielscheinhaus5210]

Perfect intonation and plenty of soul.

[@user-gl6og3wc8i]

Very good

[@alexandrequach7865]

好極了，謝謝妳。

[@eavs772]

She is goals

[@MVargabass]

Bravo!

[@prototypeinheritance515]

the best intonation

[@JoanKSX]

Her playing tone projected from her bass reminds me to an old red double bass (probably the heaviest double bass in our orchestra at that particular time) that once ago I like very much to play on during our high school Chinese orchestral works. Warm, slight harmonic-like transparent like tone texture yet feel half-feathery soft and not streaky at all and a little bit more than moderate deep tone. I wonder type of wood do make differences in creating the tone of the double bass?

[@francem.124]

Nice❤️

[@nevenask]

Wow Wow Wow! 👏👏👏 Bravo, girl! You rock!

[@luislu1701]

Superb master! with a perfect combination of technique and expression

[@georgeslambert8065]

De toute beauté .... Un ange passe !!!

[@jimjennings7623]

It's a very nice piece! I've never heard it or the composer before. Gorgeous! I really appreciate this! Thanks for posting it. What a beautiful performance!

[@matthewv789]

Bottesini was not only the greatest bass virtuoso of his day (mid-19th century), he also composed many operas. But people came to the operas to hear him play bass (often fantasies on themes from other Italian operas) during intermissions!

[@discogoth]

Bottessini is my favorite composer for bass because he was one of the first to actually see the bass for the expressive, vibrant, rich instrument that it is. So he wrote pieces like this one, which is just overflowing with power and beauty. Highly recommend digging into him a little more!

[@matthewv789]

@@discogoth Yes, Bottesini composed and conducted operas, so his writing is very lyrical, typically meant to be played in a bel canto singing style.

[@nuguri5437]

와 너무 잘해요!!^^

[@marcoagnetti5723]

Bravissima! :)

[@mathewdallaway]

Good heavens

[@yopykuo9052]

Genius !

[@69srki]

fantastik

[@vyacheslav8907]

Очень хорошо играет , а главное легко)

[@juanbautistavillalobos9644]

P E R F E C T

[@bobkmeyer]

❤

[@germanwatcheskorea]

Bravo^^

[@jojo.joanna]

Wow.

[@kelsyschoenhaar8717]

The best bassist of the 21st century? The control... the musicality... ((sigh)). You are amazing Mikyung Soung.

[@JoshuaLo2732]

I remember Gary Karr is the best bassist in the 21 century

[@alfieharries]

She's amazing but not quite edgar meyer imo

[@matthewv789]

I would say technically she is right up there, but her brother is the best I have ever heard in terms of sheer dexterity, perfect intonation, and effortless comfort leaping anywhere on the fingerboard. Musically though, I consider her to be the best classical solo double bassist in history (though we never heard Bottesini himself play, so who knows what he was like; I’m still guessing his eyes would have bugged out to hear her play), and an extraordinary talent regardless of instrument, though of course that’s just my opinion; interpretation is certainly subject to taste. (Then again, I’ve heard a lot of her playing that most other people haven’t, so I’m not judging based on just this. Musically, in terms of phrasing and range of tone color and how natural and singing it is, and in her ability to communicate emotion, she’s just way beyond any other bassist I have ever heard.)

[@JulianHaugland]

Absolutely!

[@ModusVivendiMedia]

@@alfieharries I actually think she is better for things like Bottesini, especially in terms of expression. Though Edgar is still fantastic and extremely versatile in ways Mikyung is not.

[@FaraFellow]

First German bow user I've ever seen stand. I didn't think it was possible. Strange technique but she pulls it off flawlessly.

[@justahuman4616]

Wait really? I don't think I've seen a french bow user stand before

[@Dana-ty3in]

🌹

[@ditto303]

It looks so easy on her.

[@dic_chocolate1282]

She should play koussevitzky prayer and baroque music so she can reveal her true talent I wanna see if her vibrato and bowing technique is good for koussevitzky can’t wait till she plays it

[@matthewv789]

I have heard her practice the Koussevitzky concerto (2nd and 3rd movements), and it’s about as good as anyone. There is video of Chanson Triste and Valse Miniature (the latter a little fast for my taste, though I’m not sure she usually plays it that fast) on her website. Also Bruch Kol Nidre from the same livestream. Of Bach there are only a couple of videos (parts of the first cello suite and a sonata for gamba), though their audio and video quality is not great. But the performances are excellent. The sonata is on her KZbin channel. (The suite is on mine.)

[@mykolfornasero3631]

Bille method?? Lovely playing.

[@hectorlherrerah4228]

Preciosisisisimaaaaaaaa... quee sabrosooo disfrutaaa esoo.

[@yourgenius007]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@staruchi2844]

3:37