Berliner Philharmoniker Master Class - Double Bass 

It’s so interesting to read many comments criticising his playing. To me this video is great because I am watching and thinking wow I am listening a completely different concept of sound, a type of sound that probably he developed by decades of playing with different musicians, different conductors in a time certainly different than the one we are living now, which of course it has an impact in the music. He absorbed all the knowledge and traditions of one the most important orchestras in the world, I believe there are far more important things to appreciate on him that just criticise "his sound" or his "bow technique".

8:33 that bow technique is outstanding

Excellent tips from one of the best bassists in the world and its free. Thanks RU-vid

Always great to be reminded that perfection isnt the goal, easy to lose sight of that sometimes. Really nice playing

Herr Stoll ist ein wirklich sympathischer und einfühlsamer Musiker!

One thing is that he's using black hair--which is coarser and will grab the string more (at the sacrifice of some scratchiness in the tone). Another is that he's an orchestral bassist first and foremost. When you're playing at full bore, the bass is going to get a bit of a scratchy edge. Because of the way this was recorded (I suspect close to him), you hear the edge, but when you're sitting in the audience the string noise dissipates and you get a great sound.

That depends on what school you belong to. European orchestras and North America/South American orchestras sound very, very different. I've been taught a couple of different ways, but it all depends on what region you're in. I was taught in an older New York style--playing on the fingerboard or just below it isn't unheard of. You would never do that in Philly, though. Also the Streicher grip and technique are more prominent in Europe than North America.

There's not one absolute and unique way of playing, music is the only thing that matters. Our bodies are different too so it's normal to see different aproaches to the instrument Mr Stoll is a legend holding his own style. Thanks youtube for letting people learn from the best.

one of the best ever !!

@Sanspeur323 No problem - just click on the "cc" button below the video to switch on the subtitles.

@aynjel0via It is from the Scherzo.

Wonderful! And thank you for the wonderful Ray Brown quote! That's something I will try to take to as well!

That reverb… fantastic demonstration :)

Amazing trio

@BassplayerTCL They will be uploaded very soon, so stay tuned.

Beautifull double bass. Nice deep sound and unusual shape of the body. Is it old german instrument?

Thank you so much .

Don't stop practising before it sounds more beautiful.

When he started the fast excerpt around 5:45 I was blown away a little bit by the intensity. 0_o

Fellow bass nerds... this is a wonderful masterclass, and Stoll plays the crap outta the bass. BUT, in an attempt to over-analyse his bowings, I realized that he skipped an entire bar of music! One of the repeat measures between mm.64-66. Even the masters are human... around the two and half minute mark in the video.

@BassplayerTCL it does, click cc next to the speech bubble

Great maestro!

Awesome!

謝謝老師。

Ausgezeichnet.

Lovely warm orchestral tone. Perhaps he studied the Streicher method which places the bass very low.

Thank you :")

Sehr gut! Who made your bass! Thanks.

I play dist un one week and dist video is Amazing

Das ist gut

dislike the "dislikes" :D very smooth playing i must say Amazing!! 5/5

@BerlinPhil Yes, and that was 5 months ago.....ㅜㅜ

04:56 Trio

Yeah I might be wrong but I think that he shouldn't play above the fingerboard even when its pianissimo (just release the pressaure to sound less) and also I think he plays the bow very bended, my teacher always tells me to strecth my arm in order to play the bow parallel to the fingerboard/brdige. Anyway, I liked most of the information he told and maybe its another way of playing because if not he wouldnt be where he is!

5:20

That is a 4/4 kontrabass right?

I would believe so it looks like it

Do you offer lessons

5:25

2:02

i'm surprised that the quality of sound the maestro produces is not always great, the bow seems to be often making lots of unwanted noise for such a legendary player...

I could just barely hear that. That's why I didn't care much of what you played. I kinda thought that everything was off. You playing the bow on the finger board. The height of the bass was to low. This...I think is not the best video for Master Bass Players..........

Not a masterclass

Why I am discovering this only now? Thank you for posting!