Originally from Ireland, Bernard O'Neill has been a bassist, arranger, and educator for over 30 years. He works regularly with Sinead O’Connor and Rufus Wainwright, and he recently put out a project called Syriana: The Road to Damascus. We cover a wide range of topics, including: how double bass has actually been in Middle Eastern music for a long time how North African orchestras always had double basses, from the colonial times onward different scales used in Arabic music and how specific the quarter tones and decorations are bass section proclivities micing techniques for orchestra how he got into arranging (his grandfather was an arranger and a band major in the British army) how many talented arrangers came out of Dublin with Bernard deep and multifaceted discussion around teaching improvisation to advanced string players how Bernard structures his writing and balances it with performing, teaching, and other projects Bernard is doing great things for the music world, and it was a pleasure to sit down and chat with him! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox! Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D’Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings! Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos.  Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.