Saksala on Bottesini's Introduction and Gavotta

Saksala on Bottesini's Introduction and Gavotta

Jimena Rodríguez San Miguel is accompanied by Jesús Gómez Madrigal in a performance of the Introduction and gavotta for double bass and piano by Giovanni Bottesini during a masterclass led by Janne Saksala. In many times, professor Saksala starts playing to demonstrate in a practical way what he wants the student to do. In general, the professor works in depth on the phrasing and related issues (important notes, breathing, vibrato in certain passages). Moreover, there is a repeated idea throughout the class: the need to take more time in certain notes, sometimes to give more fantasy or to improve expression. The student has to project the sound outwards using more bow. In some notes of the phrase it is necessary to give much more emphasis. The student has to 'enter more into the string', more contact is required to get a richer sound. The Professor comments on the need to work on the spiccato: it must be prepared starting from the air, with enough height, as scratching the string. A concrete passage has almost the character of mazurka and another one is more cantabile, the contrast should be shown. At the end, a great accelerando is required.