Michael Rieber plays Franck Sonata on double bass

Double bassist Michael Rieber and pianist Norbert Goerlich perform the first movement of Franck’s Sonata in A major - a work perhaps heard more often on violin and cello.

Rieber, who is the principal double bassist in the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg, spoke about why he wanted to perform the work on double bass, in The Strad June 2024 Masterclass feature.

Citing the recording by Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim as his benchmark recording, he said, ’For a long time I never even thought about playing this piece. Then I heard about some crazy double bass players who did, and I had huge respect for that. When I play a transcription for double bass from other repertoire, I think that in the end it should sound as if it was originally composed for double bass.’

The double bass transcription features a lot of writing in the high register of the instrument, for which Rieber employs a special trick: at times, he puts his left thumb under the fingerboard in high positions. By doing so, he says he is able to replicate the feel for the left hand as if he were in a lower position, which provides him with more stability and amplitude in his vibrato.

’This changed my technique; I’m completely relaxed and need less power in my left arm and hand than I used to. That said, I still need to use my thumb on the string in high positions for technical movements.’

The Franck Sonata features on Rieber and Goerlich’s latest album Nuits Blanches, which also features works by Desenclos, Fauré and Ravel. Find out more here.

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