His major teachers include Herman Reinshagen and Stuart Sankey, with whom he studied at the Aspen Music Festival and the Juilliard School. Karr's breakthrough came in 1962, when he was featured as a soloist in a nationally televised New York Philharmonic Young People's Concert, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. On that famous telecast, Karr performed "The Swan" from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns.
He has published a number of instructional books for the double bass. He focuses on finding one's unique sound on the double bass and approaching one's playing with the lyrical emphasis of a singer. During a 2007 master class at the University of Washington he encouraged the students to consider bowing closer to the bridge to enhance the quality of their sound.
After 40 years as a concert artist he retired in 2001 to Victoria, British Columbia, where he lives with his dog Shin-Ju.
The Entertainer
Gary Karr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gireul ilheo hemaeine
Oh somebody help me
Modu anirago haessdeon gil
Nan ajik georeoga
Geurae da badadeuryeo
Mameul yeoreo nwasseuni
Himdeun geon eodi
Gwaenchanha gwaenchanha
Baek beon hamyeon jeongmal gwaenchanha
Bangbeobi eopseo beoseonal bangbeobeun
Geujeo banbokhaneun geosppun
Ganadaramabasa
Ajachakatapaha hahaha
Deo dokhaejyeoya dwae nae mirael wihae
Nan noraehago chumchuneun gigye
Nae modeun gamjeongeun
Oroji eumak wieman
Jonjaehae jonjaehae
Seulpeujiman sarangdo
Nae kkumeul chaeuji moshae
Geujeo meolliseoman baraboneun gobaek
Godoen haruui kkeute
Nega saenggaknal tende
Woo ttokgateun daylight
Gireul ilheo hemaeine
Oh somebody help me
Noraehallae wo
Nae geokjeongeun marayo
Eonjenganeun doegessji
Eumagi nae beondeushan jigeop
Nan mideo bokjaphan
Miro gateun hyeonsireun ije got
Dwirohago saranamgireul
Geurae ganeun geoya
Oroji hangireul
Eodil gana da ttokgata
I sesang modeun ge geujeo
Naega haneun ge olheun ge doeneun geoji mwo
Haruraneungeol jeonbu nareul wihaeseo
Eumagi nae pyeongsaeng gyeyakseo
Geurae nan jom dalla
Heunge gyeoun ttanttara mudae wieseo
Nan michin deusi nara
Nae ane bunno
Ulbun mwo geureongeol da tohae baeteo
Nae salmui gaecheok
Nareul wihae gidaryeojun
Sarama sigana
Jogeumman deo chamgo nuneul gamajwo
Nan jeoldae jiji anha jichiji anha
Modeun ge eoreo buteodo
Nae yeoljeongeun sikji anha
Noraehallae wo
Nae geokjeongeun marayo
Nae neuneuneu neukkimdaero
Heuheuheu heureuneundaero
Bububu bureugo sipeo
Nae mamdaero bakkuneun taedo
Modeunge comedy
Eonjenga joheun nari
Naega gidarin showtime oh oh
Noraehallae wo
Noraehallae wo
Nae geokjeongeun marayo
The lyrics to "The Entertainer" by Gary Karr are actually a mix of Korean and English, which adds to the uniqueness of the song. The lyrics tell a story of someone asking for help as they walk down a lonely path, feeling lost and troubled. They find solace in music and singing, which provides them with a glimmer of hope. The chorus encourages them to keep going, as they will eventually overcome whatever difficulties they face, and that they will find the strength to get through even the darkest of days.
The song itself is a beautiful and moving piece, with a unique blend of bass and cello that creates a distinctive sound. Karr's playing is impeccable, with each note and phrase executed perfectly to convey the emotions expressed in the lyrics. The song shows that music can be a powerful tool to help people through difficult times and express emotions that words cannot always capture.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo ttokgateun daylight
Bright daylight streaming through the window
Gireul ilheo hemaeine
I'm walking along the road
Oh somebody help me
I need someone to help me
Modu anirago haessdeon gil
The road that everyone said was impossible
Nan ajik georeoga
I'm still walking
Geurae da badadeuryeo
Yeah, everything is overwhelming
Mameul yeoreo nwasseuni
My heart is racing
Himdeun geon eodi
Where is the difficulty?
Haru iteul ildo aninikka
It won't take all day
Gwaenchanha gwaenchanha
It's alright, it's alright
Baek beon hamyeon jeongmal gwaenchanha
Even a hundred times, it's really alright
Bangbeobi eopseo beoseonal bangbeobeun
There's no place to hide, but I'm just dodging
Geujeo banbokhaneun geosppun
Just a trivial matter
Ganadaramabasa
Random sounds
Ajachakatapaha hahaha
Laughing uncontrollably
Deo dokhaejyeoya dwae nae mirael wihae
I have to hustle more for my future
Nan noraehago chumchuneun gigye
Singing and dancing along
Nae modeun gamjeongeun
All of my emotions
Oroji eumak wieman
Just in the form of music
Jonjaehae jonjaehae
It's perfect, it's perfect
Seulpeujiman sarangdo
Though it's sad, it's love
Nae kkumeul chaeuji moshae
I won't give up on my dream
Geujeo meolliseoman baraboneun gobaek
A declaration of looking only from afar
Godoen haruui kkeute
At the end of one lonely day
Nega saenggaknal tende
As I think of you
Noraehallae wo
Let's sing now
Nae geokjeongeun marayo
Don't worry about me
Eonjenganeun doegessji
It'll be alright someday
Eumagi nae beondeushan jigeop
The field in which I plant my music
Nan mideo bokjaphan
I believe in a solid plan
Miro gateun hyeonsireun ije got
The future like a maze is now crystal clear
Dwirohago saranamgireul
I'm looking for a new challenge
Geurae ganeun geoya
Yeah, I'm gonna go for it
Oroji hangireul
Just let it hang loosely
Eodil gana da ttokgata
Wherever it may be, it's all the same to me
I sesang modeun ge geujeo
Everything in this world is just
Naega haneun ge olheun ge doeneun geoji mwo
What I make of it, what I don't, what difference does it make?
Haruraneungeol jeonbu nareul wihaeseo
For the sake of living every day
Eumagi nae pyeongsaeng gyeyakseo
My music is planned for my entire life
Geurae nan jom dalla
Yeah, I'm a little different
Heunge gyeoun ttanttara mudae wieseo
Jumping along with the crowd at the concert
Nan michin deusi nara
I'm flying like crazy
Nae ane bunno
My veins
Ulbun mwo geureongeol da tohae baeteo
All kinds of colors are rushing in
Nae salmui gaecheok
The satisfaction I get
Nareul wihae gidaryeojun
The ones who waited for me
Sarama sigana
People and time
Jogeumman deo chamgo nuneul gamajwo
Pay a little more attention and close your eyes
Nan jeoldae jiji anha jichiji anha
I never give up, I never rest
Modeun ge eoreo buteodo
Though everything's tough
Nae yeoljeongeun sikji anha
My determination never dies
Bububu bureugo sipeo
I want to laugh and play
Nae mamdaero bakkuneun taedo
Swinging to my heart's content
Modeunge comedy
Everything's comedy
Eonjenga joheun nari
Someday will be a good day
Naega gidarin showtime oh oh
I'm waiting for showtime
Noraehallae wo
Let's sing now
Noraehallae wo
Let's sing now
Nae geokjeongeun marayo
Don't worry about me
Writer(s): Bob Wilber, Scott Joplin (dp)
Contributed by Callie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KCMmmmm
I heard that when told that a french bow couldn't match the sound of a german bow, without a word, Gary picked up a french bow, and there was no difference. Bow is preference. Anybody who tells you that one bow has an advantage over another, in any way, is using that as an excuse to avoid practicing. What minimal advantages there might be, can be completely negated by practice.
どんぐり弦バス
Very rhythmic and fun!
The business spirit that makes the customer laugh is the highest
コントラバス好き
Me too.
Alex Musa
i love his sound... it's like... actually the double bass played well, instead of someone trying to play the cello on the bass.
91FroSt91
Absolutely amazing ... can't say anything else so I don't demean such amazing talent.
Andrew Metzger
and this is why I love being a bass player.
josefina del castillo
as a 14 year old female double bass player, I look up to Gary :) a huge inspiration to me on playing bass
josefina del castillo
Chloe Schemidt OMG REALLY?! THAT WOULD BE A DREAM!!
caponsacchi
I can't believe I unknowingly played for him at a dance in Madison. i was there when he brought Richard Davis to the campus for the first time. Davis is still there, I believe. Gary is not as famous in the U.S. as in the Far East. The noise in jazz these days is about young female bass players--Linda Oh and the hottest act on the festival circuit, Esperanza Spalding. Wonder if either attended a Karr workshop.
Ich Du
does anyone has the sheets for this??