Ideal for a popular school or informal concert. Programme note by Rodney Slatford 2008:Jack Snow Hester was born on 2 March 1907 in Chorlton Lancashire and joined the music profession as a double bass player when he was seventeen. His father Arthur Darrell Hester appears on his birth certificate as 'Manufacturer (chemicals)'; his mother was Minnie Frances Hester formerly Stamp and the family lived in South Manchester. During the 1930s as Norman Hester he worked at Daly's Theatre the Piccadilly Theatre the Palace Theatre and other London variety houses in West End productions. He married Isabella Dawson Davidson on 1 July 1940 in Worcester and shedied in 1973. He died in 2001 after a long period of ill health.During the 1960s Norman was an active freelance player working as an extra bass player with the London symphony orchestras including the BBC. Quite when The Bull Steps Out was written isn't certain but Norman sent me a copy to consider for republishing – it is assumed that the original publication appeared sometime during or just after the war. It was a 'one off' that he probably played for light music evenings in the theatres.The piece has been very popular and has been used for examinations on various syllabuses around Grade 7 level.An unpublished manuscript copy of a double bass 'method' is on file that Norman Hester wrote when he retired but it is mainly a compilation of various scales and exercises similar to many that were published in the early 20th century. A photograph of him as a young man is held at the Royal Society of Musicians in London which he joined in 1930 and of which he was a loyal supporter until he died.

Also available for Double Bass Soloist and String Ensemble (M 1071) / Contrebasse Et Piano

For Viola, Double Bass and Piano. Double Bass Part: Orchestral AND/OR Solo Tuning (includes parts for both).

Composed in 1978 this arrangement of Richard Rodney Bennett's Concerto For Double Bass includes a Piano reduction of the Orchestral material.

25 Easy Pieces from 5 Centuries in half and 1st Position-The ‘Easy Concert Pieces’ series presents a varied selection of easy concert pieces for double bass and piano from the Renaissance Baroque and Classical periods through to the modern era. To facilitate choosing individual pieces for performance and auditions at music schools competitions or examinations these pieces have been ordered according to level of musical and technical difficulty.Book 1 (ED 22551) contains pieces in half and first position. Pieces in each position and some using position changes are presented from each era. Simple techniques such as portato staccato and legato bowing are introduced along with pizzicato using rudimentary dynamics rangingfrom piano to forte crescendo and decrescendo and simple phrasing. The pieces selected here are varied in character with memorable tunes a few different time signatures and simple rhythms.Book 2 (ED 22552) in preperation.

This new publication replaces the old Latham edition (now out of print) - popular title on both ABRSM and TG double bass syllabuses (grade 7).Dennis Leogrande writes:I began writing the melody first although every piece begins differently. I wanted to begin with a sound that for me is very characteristic of the bass that being the ½ step slide from G# to A. Looking throughout the piece you will notice other slides ie. bars 1 3 5 7 12 14 16 18 38 58 114 116 18 120 123 125 and 127. Please don't forget to notice the grace note slide in measure 100. These are the melodic motifs that give the piece its character and act as hooks(memorable ideas) for the listener to latch on to. Once I began writing the melody it just grew organically from the original idea. I hope you feel the same organic growth. The shifting harmonic tonalities (between D major and D minor) seem to ask the question 'May I?' and keep the listener involved in trying to answer the question. The jazz style keeps the 'question' light hearted a little 'tongue in cheek.' However playing this piece requires attention to these details and a great deal of musicianship. It's the fine musician who understands both the music and the instrument who can make a difficult and complicated piece sound easy light and fun. Oh and yes please enjoy!

'An easy piece... Suitable for players who have been studying for about eighteen months'. Music Teacher. Dare was a Scottish composer and an amateur bassist.

Twelve rural reflections for Double Bass and Piano by Betty Roe. These short pieces have straightforward simple arrangements making them ideal for beginners who will enjoy playing and learning these bright and relaxed tunes.

A wonderful vivacious composition full of humour and warmth. It is well suited to the needs of the less advanced player and is set as part of the ABRSM Double Bass Syllabus. Grade: 6