This morning, Thursday 18th of May, Grade 5 had a very exciting visit from Fernando Sánchez, one of the eight double bass players of the ‘Orquesta Sinfónica del Sodre’.
We have been working on the topic, ‘Why is music important?’ Fernando came to explain to us why music is so important to him and how he has made a career out of playing the double bass.
Below are some of our reflections.
«Before the talk, I thought that the double bass could only be used to play classical music, but now I know that it can adapt to play to different music like tango, cumbia, rock and jazz.»
Matías E
«When Fernando arrived my first impression was, ‘what instrument is that?’, ‘what an enormous instrument!’ and ‘what does that instrument sound like?»
Emiliano M
«I loved the part when Fernando took out his double bass. The size of the instrument was amazing and the melody was high-pitched but beautiful.»
Valentina L
«I was impressed to know that the bow was made from the tail hair of a horse. I also learnt that it can only be made from the hair of a male horse.»
Agustina T and Alfonso B
«I learnt that double bass can be played with a bow or with your hands. When you play it with your fingers it’s called pizzicato.»
Juliana S and Lucía C.
We were very impressed at the beauty of the instrument and the sounds it produced. We couldn’t believe that Fernando’s double bass was built in 1730 and that it still sounds so powerful.
What an experience!