Double bassist Louis van der Mespel Photo: Supplied
As a professional double bass player working in Europe, Louis van der Mespel spends a lot of time performing with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble (Nederlands Blazers Ensemble in the local lingo).
It might sound oxymoronic for a string player, but many works for winds need a double bass to provide a bit of body to the bottom line.
Think of Mozart's "Gran Partita" or Dvorak's "Serenade for Wind Instruments" (and double bass).
Back home in New Zealand to help out with a Suzuki Summer Camp in Wairarapa, van der Mespel spoke with RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump about living and working in the Netherlands, why he loves playing the double bass, and whether you can tell a Suzuki-schooled musician by the sound they make.
