A double bassist playing Sarasate's immensely virtuosic Zigeunerweisen - it's majestic and jaw-dropping
28 July 2015, 16:06 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45
American double bassist Lauren Pierce proves Sarasate's flurries of violin-virtuoso notes are no match for her nimble fingers.
It's one of the most virtuosic pieces in the violin repertoire. In fact, when you say "Pablo de Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen", most violinists see hazard signs, like this:
So imagine that sort of virtuosity, combined with that massive, majestic instrument, the double bass. The result is American double bass virtuoso Lauren Pierce.
She's become something of a social media star, sharing videos of herself playing fiendish pieces on her double bass. And her latest video, with guitarist Andy Bell, is no exception.
As you'll see from the video, playing this violin showpiece on the double-bass is as much a physical challenge as a musical one. A violin's fingerboard measures around 11 inches, on a double bass it's almost 3 and a half feet. That's quite a lot of distance to cover.
Just take a look and admire the musicality and skill...
When she's not smashing out finger-blurring flurries of notes at the top of her fingerboard, Lauren is a section member in the South Carolina Philharmonic and gives double bass lessons. You can also watch more of her videos on her YouTube channel.
