Douglas Burden: Bass Trombonist and Educator
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
07/09/22
•97m
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In this episode I speak with a wonderful colleague, the Bass Trombonist Douglas Burden, who has recently retired from Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra after 50 years. He shares his perspectives on his career, including wisdom passed down from some of his mentors including Emory Remington and Arnold Jacobs, and the lessons he learned about staying healthy and keeping his playing at the highest level. Doug is also well-known as an educator and will continue to teach at the University of Ottawa; he also shares his thoughts on what an orchestral career means, his memories of different conductors, his practice tips, and the importance of balancing different aspects of a life well-lived.
As I point out in the intro,I'm including a link to Doug's gorgeous singing style in a Bordogni Vocalise (since we weren't able to use the recording he made during the episode due to a technical problem): https://youtu.be/p5ti8bKzsEg
Below I've included timestamps for the many topics covered.
All these episodes are also available as videos, here's the link: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/douglas-burden-bass-trombonist-and-educator
Help me keep this podcast going with a tip! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
photo credit: Fred Cattroll
(00:00) Intro
(01:44) playing as singing, Jack Everly
(04:12) how to anticipate the beat, release the sound, Mario Bernardi and history of NACO
(10:41) role of low brass in an orchestra
(14:06) types of trombones, particularities of the instrument
(17:14) Arnold Jacobs
(26:03) Doug’s start in music and family background
(30:15) Emory Remington’s legacy and his sudden death, Donald Knaub
(38:15) starting out in NACO and many brass players at the time: Gordon Cherry, Bob Odes, Gene Watts, Chuck Kaellenbach
(40:02) Pinchas Zukerman and establishing contracts for positions like bass trombone
(45:37) changes in the working conditions over the years
(46:58) changes in auditions
(49:57) advice for musicians preparing orchestral auditions, more about Arnold Jacobs
(53:42) Intonation
(01:00:56) Endurance, preventing injury, staying in good physical shape and taking care of yourself
(01:16:17) Franz-Paul Decker
(01:20:11) score study, practice routine, practicing Bach Cello Suites
(01:31:12) advice for serious students contemplating an orchestral career
Previous Episode
Tracy Silverman is truly an inspiring musician in every respect and it was such an honour to meet him and be able to record this memorable episode! This interview is also available as a video, and the transcript will soon be published, everything linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/tracy-silverman-electric-violinist-and-author-of-the-strum-bowing-method
We talked about his classical roots, studying with legendary teachers Lewis Kaplan and Ivan Galamian, his rejection of the classical world and his fascinating career, through his years in rock bands, we even talked about some of his early gigs, including learning the ropes as a strolling violinist, getting the job as first violinist of the innovative Turtle Island string quartet, and the development of his Strum Bowing method. We talked about many musicians, including some of his collaborators and mentors including Terry Riley, Darol Anger, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Mark Wood, and composers Roberto Sierra and John Adams. In this conversation one of the many topics we covered was the new concerto writtten for Tracy called “Ficciones” by Roberto Sierra. Finally, we dived into his creative process, how music affects our emotions, and how to stay open by listening to others, and learning to show up as ourselves. Tracy Silverman website: https://www.tracysilverman.com/
Please help me keep this podcast going! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:29) Concerto "Ficciones" by Roberto Sierra, premiered with the American Symphony Orchestra
(00:06:13) Tracy's 6-string electric violin built by Joe Glazer with demonstrations, and more about "Ficciones"
(00:13:14) Tracy's support system for the instrument and hisi progression from classical violinist through his rock days
(00:21:37) Lewis Kaplan
(00:24:25) Ivan Galamian
(00:27:40) Tracy's approach to Bach
(00:31:04) Tracy's childhood, starting to study composition
(00:33:14) intersection of improvisation and composition
(00:35:17) more about "Ficciones"
(00:37:20) "Between the Kiss and the Chaos"
(00:39:51) Turtle Island String Quartet and career advice
(00:43:35) Strolling violin gigs, wedding singer
(00:46:41) John Adams, "Dharma at Big Sur", solo recital versions of concerti
(00:49:00) Looping with demo
(00:56:27) Album "Beats and Jams" with son "Toby Beats"
(01:01:11) mentor and collaborator Terry Riley
(01:03:23) process of improvisation
(01:09:56) using Strum bowign principles in different styles
(01:16:47) Egberto Gismonti, Darol Anger
(01:19:24) Caito Marcondes
(01:21:00) teaching, strum bowing in school music programs
(01:23:43) Turtle Island String Quartet, Darol Anger and the origin of strum bowing
(01:27:08) how music affects our emotions
(01:31:10) Roy "Futureman" Wooten, positive mindset
(01:36:30) challenges with the 2020 lockdowns
(01:43:25) manager Brian Horner and putting together commission for "Ficciones" with different orchestras
(01:45:21) Rudolph Hawkin, Mark Wood, Matt Bell, Chuck Bond Trager, Tracy's mission with string playing
(01:50:23) How Tracy practices
(02:03:28) Advice on being open and listening to other musicians
Next Episode
Mark Ferguson is a jazz pianist, trombonist, composer, arranger, producer and music educator. In this episode you get to hear him perform 3 of his original compositions on piano. We talk about his mentors, perspectives on music education and the interesting twists and turns in his varied career. He’s performed with many of the world’s great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Gil Evans, Aretha Franklin, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Holly Cole and Manteca,. Mark Ferguson website: http://markferguson.ca/music/
All these episodes are available in video format as well, and the transcripts are gradually being published to my blog: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mark-ferguson-jazz-pianist-trombonist-composer-arranger-producer-and-music-educator
Please help me keep this going! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
photo credit: Claude Brazeau
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(00:56) how we met
(02:29) Mark’s early education and gigs
(08:32) lessons with Jerry Johnson and playing gigs with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Rita Moreno
(11:06) lessons with Rob McConnell, arranging, valve trombone
(14:37) Mark’s composition “F Sharp”
(20:55) jazz harmony, different roles as rhythm player in the band and horn player
(22:40) Miguel De Armas
(23:13) Manteca, Colleen Allen, Matt Zimbel
(26:29) teaching at McGill University
(27:52) Classical and jazz worlds James McGowan
(30:37) Kellylee Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, jazz
(31:18) teaching orchestration and theory
(33:04) learning tunes and Hugh O’Connor
(35:19) learning lyrics and Ben Webster story
(37:00) transposition
(39:21) importance of keyboard skills
(40:15) Voicing chords
(42:00) arranging
(43:09) staying in shape as a trombonist
(43:45) pandemic experience, performing on Syncspace live
(44:45) teaching online
(46:32) variety in rhythm, keeping the groove
(50:21) working with high school students, jazz history
(52:19) Mark’s composition “Home”
(59:51) performance skills
(01:01:42) Mark’s new solo album plans
(01:03:03) different sides of Mark’s personality as a trombone player and pianist, big band versus small ensemble
(01:04:16) jazz audience, advantages of knowing jazz harmony, Alexander Shelley
(01:07:04) Mark’s early days as a jazz pianist, career choices
(01:08:42) advice for young players
(01:10:04) Vista Trio, playing with others to keep in shape
(01:11:37) difference between composition and improvisation
(01:12:14) staying healthy
(01:14:37) Mark’s composition “Take the O Train”
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