In a symphony orchestra, the double bass is a lowly instrument – in more ways than one. Positioned off to one side, or perhaps at the back of the stage, bass players don’t get much of the limelight that’s lavished on more prominent sections of the orchestra.
“Our foundational role in the orchestra is why they keep us on board,” suggests bassist Jeffrey Beecher, with a touch of irony. The New York native has served as principal bass with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for the last four years.
Occasionally, however, orchestral bass players do get a moment to shine. And one of these moments happens Thursday night, and also Saturday evening, when the TSO performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 at Roy Thomson Hall. At the opening of the third movement lies one of the most exposed bass solos in the orchestral repertoire.
“It’s a kind of twisted hero-march,” explains Beecher, who will be playing the solo, “with a nasal, woody colour.”
He also points out that an upside of playing the bass is that it’s needed in so many kinds of music. This demands versatility from bassists – and this suits Beecher just fine. For seven years he’s toured with the Silk Road Ensemble, a world music group fronted by star cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The band combines Western, classically trained musicians with performers from across Asia.
Mixing up Eastern and Western musical traditions in this way creates some unique challenges. Although virtuosos on their instruments, some of the Asian players can’t read music – and ways have to be found in rehearsal to make the group hang together.
“One of the best things about working with Yo-Yo,” says Beecher, “is his uncanny sense of challenge. He’ll go right to your most insecure area and say, ‘Do it.’ But that’s what makes life exciting.”
Jeffrey Beecher and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform a program of Chopin and Mahler Thursday and Saturday, 8 p.m. $29 to $128. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 416-872-4255.
