NEWSTICKER
I will keep this page as information source for some events that are going on in my professional life for those who would like to read about it. This page is divided up into the following categories:
- NEWS
- TOOLS
- STUDENTS
NEWS
Now you can follow Božo Paradžik's projects better than ever before on Instagram! Although this website is regularly maintained and updated, the Instagram account offers much more: one can now follow the projects already since the creation stage, throughout the development. Preparations, practicing, concert travels, but also everyday's topics like some details about the lifestyle, hobbies, or leisure. Visit Božo Paradžik's Instagram profile already today and if you don't want to miss anything, please subscribe:
2020-NOVEMBER | CD "Double Bass Goes Beethoven" Vol.1 is again in stock
The last samples of the now no longer available CD have been delivered and since the beginning of December this CD is again available here in the online shop
2020-OCTOBER | Alexander Weiskopf employed with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
This is a touching moment for the teacher, who has accompanied a young person on his musical path almost from the beginning: Alexander Weiskopf makes it to the top. Before that, while still a student, he won the Academy positions for double bass with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at the same time as he received his Bachelor's degree at the Freiburg Musikhochschule. He decided to accept the position in Munich and did not continue his studies in Freiburg. Less than a year later he was employed as principal double bassist with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Two years later he returns to Munich, where he originally came from. I will surely go to see him at the stage as a new member of the Munich Philharmonic.
2020-AUGUST | the recital performed at Ljubljana Festival on August 12th can be watched now on Facebook
The entire recital with the pianist Hansjacob Staemmler with works by Pärt, Brahms, Bonis and Beethoven can be now
WATCHED HERE
2020-JULY | what is Božo Paradžik busy with?
Lockdown months have been full of interesting home production projects. In this one, I have recorded double bass and guitar solos to the song "Love Of My Life" composed by Freddie Mercury. Accompaniement has been played by the legendary Queen guitarist Brian May. This production has been meanwhile released on my YouTube channel:
Another really interesting short production was the first variation from "Goldberg Variations" by Johann Sebastian Bach, which I have played with the Swedish Nykelharpa virtuoso Erik Rydvall. The tempo was very fast to fit into the 59 seconds video length limit for Instagram. Here is the YouTube release of that recording:
EARLIER PROJECTS:
Video production of the public appearence from May 31, 2019 "Concours de Paris" by my double bass class at the Musikhochschule Freiburg has just been released on YouTube:
2018-JULY-09 | five releases of Vaňhal concerto orchestra sheet music are rolling out now
Three releases containing not less than five complete orchestra materials are rolling out this week. Following editions have been completed: in C major (world's first release), in D major, in E flat major Urtext-edition, in E flat major (another version) and in E major. It took in total around 4 months of work to complete the work on this since 2015, I am very happy to have completed the editorial work on this project.
Check the availability in the following days here in the webshop
2018-MAY-06 | world's first release of the sheet music by Hertl's 30 Miniatures, only here available
With friendly permission of František Hertl's daughter, Ms Květa Hertlová, these miniatures for double bass & piano are now rolling out in five steps, exclusively here in the webshop. I will work on it in whenever I find time for it and try to release all 30 Miniatures. So far, the Miniatures 1-6 and 7-12 are available, the orders can be placed now here in the webshop
2017-NOVEMBER-16 | Double Bass Goes Brahms is now available also as a high-quality MP3
Orders can be placed now here
2017-SEPTEMBER-01 | New requirements and tuition fees at the Musikhochschule Freiburg
There is a new, strict language requirement rule that includes an obligation to apply for the enterance examination in Freiburg already with a certificate of the capability to use German language on at least level B1. Otherwise, the applications are no more accepted. There is also another news for all the students from the non-EU countries: such students will have to pay higher tuition fees at the Musikhochschule Freiburg since October 2017.
More about the fees on the website of the Ministry of Science, Research and Art
2017-MAY-11 | THE NEW SACD "DOUBLE BASS GOES BRAHMS" IS NOW IN STOCK!
The new Super Audio CD "Double Bass Goes Brahms" is finally in stock! I've managed to save costs by simplifying the cover, so my customers can order this SACD which is in sonical terms superb product to the same price like a simple CD. It took me 17 years to fullfil one of my real life-works here. The orders can be placed now here
2015-04-20 | THE NEW VERSION OF MY WEBSITE IS ONLINE
This Website with its content will be updated frequently which wasn't possible with the old version, due to the technical limitations of Flash encoding. The host server of my website is using 100% green energy. Here are some of the new features:
- full compatibility with all kinds of smartphones, tablets, and PCs with any operating system
- switchable to dark background with bright text (accessible for each individual page) designed for easy reading in dark environments
- newly designed online shop with my scores, audio files, physical CDs, etc.
TOOLS
People ask me quite often questions regarding my instruments or other tools. Here are some of the most answered FAQs:
BOW
Since 1993 all the bows I have used were built by the same maker: Master Milan Oubrecht. The sonic characteristics of these fine bows are graded according to register height (e.g. from the darkest sounding bow that is ideal in the lowest register to the bow that sounds ideal in the highest register: crisp, crystal clear and very defined). My choice of the bow is made according to the repertoire or the acoustics of the respective concert hall.
INSTRUMENT
Until 2000 I have used a historic double bass, built around 1780-1790 probably by a maker from the Klotz family. Since 2000 I have been playing mostly on an instrument built exclusively for me by the master Derek High, which, unlike the historical double basses, was built with tonal characteristics specifically for solo playing.
ROSIN
As I dislike all sticky rosins, I am using at this moment Liebenzeller Metal Rosin, which performs quite differently if compared to the sticky type of double bass rosin produced by the well-known brands. This rosin is available in six hardness grades. The hardest available is "I" (1) and it is too hard for double bass. The grade "VI" (6) is the softest variant (comparable to Kolstein AW, slightly harder than Pop's). Liebenzeller Metal Rosin does not produce much dust, so it is less dangerous for the varnish of the instruments. Type "Lapis V" (hardness is comparable to Kolstein H, but it isn't sticky and it doesn't melt) is my favourite type for solo playing. It sounds very crisp and clear, with good definition of the overtones. It lasts on the bow hair and works as it should for quite a long time. Lapis IV would be imaginable to work in the extremely high temperatures. Please mind that I am using low-tension gut (or natural silk) core strings, which are behaving very different than the high-tension steel core strings. I am here just sharing the information about my tools, which are matter of my personal taste and may not match the needs of another players.
STRINGS
Since 2010 until today I was using exclusively hand made low-tension gut core strings by Gerold Genssler. Occasionally I have played also on his strings with synthetic core. The string maker stopped using the gut core in 2019 and switched completely to silk core, which works very similarly. These strings have much less tension and put less strain on the instrument (25-30% less, compared to the popular steel core strings). These strings have also an extremely long life span and keep their tonal characteristics over the whole time: the first set of gut strings is still on my 5-string and has been working perfectly for almost nine years now (since 2011).
The last type of strings I used before was the Thomastik Dominant solo tuning (synthetic core). These strings produced a little less tension than the steel strings (felt 5-7%), but due to a design flaw they tend to break without warning. Dozens of strings of this type have broken, regardless of how long I have been using them (back then, usually I rarely used the strings for more than 6 months). Since the Thomastik company has increased the sales prices of these strings, I have not recommended them to my students anymore as the construction flaw hasn't been resolved.
SCORDATURA
Until 2004 I used the common tunings like most of bass players: in fourths tuned either without transposition ("orchestra tuning") or transposing in D ("solo tuning"). Since 2005 I have been using excessively scordaturas either transp. in F (c,G,D,A with high C string) or occasionally also transp. in G (d,A,E,B with high D string). The high tunings convert the typical bass sound into the natural baritone, with very much improved brightness and clarity, which is much better useable for solo perfomances.
SCORES
Since there were practically no works for high tuning in the original literature, I have successfully adapted, performed and published a number of the works of the mostly world-class composers as sheet music, usually in unchanged form and key. Nearly all my scores were at some point written down with the help of suitable notation software and they are getting available one by one in my online shop
PRIVATE LESSONS
Generally, I don't teach privately. I am very busy teaching my students at the music university. In addition, I belive that regular teaching week by week over longer time is the only way for students to really reap the benefits. Players who can't study with me but would like to get lessons from me have the opportunity to enroll and participate in one of my masterclasses.
STUDENTS
Young and very talented musicians who are very motivated and determined to work hard over several years should at any time apply to the enterance examinations on either of the Universities where I teach as professor for double bass: Musikhochschule Freiburg (D) or at the Hochschule Luzern-Musik (CH). Besides the required skills in double bass playing and the knowledge in theoretical musical subjects, it is also very important to know, that the communication skills in German language at least on the B1 level is required at either of the conservatories. Besides that, there are also some specific requirements for the enterance examinations in Freiburg as well as for the enterance examinations in Luzern.
Practical information: students with tight budget should mind that it is usually much easier to organise the money for living costs in Lucerne. Although the average prices and life standard in Switzerland are somewhat higher than in Germany, Switzerland has generally many more culture foundations where international young musicians can apply for the support. CIty of Freiburg belongs to the most expensive German cities, it is especially difficult for students to find an appartment for fair prices. Mini jobs in Germany are paid very badly compared to Switzerland, also the possibilities for the double bassists to earn money as a musician are also much better in the central Switzerland. Tuition fees for non-EU residents are a lot higher in Baden-Württemberg than in Lucerne.
The candidates for studying should try to contact me on time, rather a year or two in advance instead of just short before. Summer masterclasses are the best way to getting knowing your further teacher before such a big decision that will have influence on young person's future career.
At the moment, estimated amount of places to study in the next enterance examinations on my conservatories term looks as following (please mind that the application deadlines are usually at least 8 or 10 weeks before the enterance examinations):
- Musikhochschule Freiburg: 1 or 2 new studying places are estimated from April 2023 | entrance examinations will take place in February 2023, application deadline is usually around 1st of December - please check the website of the Musikhochschule Freiburg for further Details (links just above)
- HSLU-M Musikhochschule Lucerne: the class is full, at the moment are no new studying places in the class estimated to study from September 2023 | entrance examinations will take place in March/April 2023
last update: 20th August 2022