Sasha Witteveen: “I can now

delve deeper into the music”

Making musical dreams come true

Sasha: "Since 2016, the Musical Instrument Foundation has contributed enormously to the development of my musical dreams. In 2016, I was able to play an instrument from the foundation for the first time: a double bass built by Harry Jansen. From that moment on, I was hugely motivated and inspired to practice hard, because I was able to play such a beautiful instrument that allowed me to discover and grow so much."

Why did you start looking for a different double bass?

"In 2019, the foundation offered me the opportunity to switch to a Scaramelli bass, because I had outgrown my previous instrument and was ready for a new challenge and source of inspiration. For the same reason, I submitted a new application to the Musical Instrument Foundation to search for my dream instrument, one that would give me a boost of inspiration and also present new technical challenges. In this way, the foundation has supported me enormously in pursuing my musical dreams as far as possible, and I am very grateful for that!"

Which instrument did you ultimately choose and why?

“After a long search and several sound tests with the help of double bass teachers and soloists (including Rick Stotijn, Olivier Thiery, and Luis Cabrera), I was very lucky to come across a double bass that was most likely built by Piattellini in Florence around 1825. It is a beautiful instrument for solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire! It projects like the best and has the most beautiful overtones. Double bass maker Melle Wondergem has just built a great extension (extension of the fingerboard, ed.) on this bass, making the bass register even deeper. Moreover, it is a reasonably small instrument, which makes traveling just a little bit easier."

An instant connection

For Sasha, the choice was obvious, because playing the double bass feels like a great gift to her. “Compared to my previous instrument, it's a huge upgrade,” she says. “I would have been crazy to say no to this instrument!”

Was it difficult to say goodbye to the Scaramelli?

“Yes, it was definitely not easy. I had a special connection with that instrument from the first note I played on it, because it was built especially for me, and because I am the first player of the instrument. As a result, the instrument grew to be my best friend.”

Delving deeper into the music

Sasha: “Playing the Piattellini makes me look forward to all the upcoming concerts even more, because I know that I can delve a hundred times deeper into the music thanks to the infinite possibilities of this double bass. I get to discover all these possibilities, which is a hugely enjoyable challenge! Every day, I get to know this beautiful, mysterious bass a little better.”

Sasha is not the only musician who longed for a versatile double bass. The waiting list is slowly filling up with conservatory students and top soloists, but unfortunately, a top-quality bass is almost impossible to find, even in our collection.

Head of collection Frits Schutte says: ‘Sasha is an enormous talent who works extremely hard and is developing rapidly. It is therefore extremely important that her instruments grow with her and do not hinder her development. We are incredibly happy that we have been able to help Sasha with this beautiful double bass.’