Dear family & friends,
On Sunday, March 27th, 2016, I completed my second and final Masters Recital at Arizona State University. The event truly commemorated all that I had learned these past two years from my teachers and peers at ASU. As I prepare to move onto the next chapter in my life, I fondly recall how each piece of this recital uniquely showcased the achievements I have made since I began my degree. Please enjoy the following recordings (made by Trevor Gipper) and their respective importance in my musical growth.
The opening piece "Where She Sleeps at Night", an original composition, was an ongoing project that I developed over the course of the semester with the help of Dr. Jody Rockmaker who was generous enough to allow me an independent study credit under his instruction. Vibraphonist, Matt Williams, also gave me some invaluable knowledge throughout the process on writing for my second favorite instrument in a style that may be best described as improvised pop jazz fusion... ? This work was a great challenge for me as I found myself battling inner demons and the enormously frustrating self-doubt, but the end result made it all worth it and only inspires me to keep challenging myself to write music for the double bass.
The second piece on the program is Niccolo Paganini's "Variations for One String, Based on a Theme by Rossini" and was quite the undertaking for such a short and sweet little tune. Once I could get past the sheer technical demands, it was really quite fun to play!
"Divertimento Concertante" by Nino Rota as written with the full intention of emulating a bass player who struggled to play in tune (read more about that here) and for that very reason really stretches the player's harmonic understanding of the piece. Listen closely, those augmented 4ths and major 7ths really do play tricks on the ear. I have shared movements II and IV with you.
These two movements from Daryl Runswick's "Suite and Low" for Bass Quartet are extraordinarily goofy and yet quite well written. I just feel lucky to get to play such a light hearted piece of music with some of the most inspiring musicians I have had the pleasure to study with! From left to right: Thomas Menefee, Joey Pettit, Ben Hedquist, and myself. In fact, a large part of what has made my time here at ASU so enriching is the fabulous peers I am surrounded by, especially in the bass studio. They all work hard and have great positive attitudes and they keep me in touch with what music is all about.
Finally, I chose to end my recital with Bottesini's "Passione Amorosa" for two basses and a string quartet. Having the fortune to play alongside my teacher, Catalin Rotaru, was an utterly indescribable experience, but I can say this: Catalin has shown me ways of approaching music and the bass that I had never before dreamed of. I am eternally grateful toward him for his mentorship and dedication toward my education and improvement. This moment captures so clearly how much his instruction has influenced my musical identity. I am also indebted to my accompaniment, Olivia, Vlad, Joey, and Alex who all made a for a beautiful string quartet to complement this recital finale.
<3 K