Enjoy the Double Bass

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660 – 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is even considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. Scarlatti's music forms an important link between the early Baroque Italian vocal styles of the 17th century with their centres in Florence Venice and Rome and the Classical school of the 18th century. His legacy was carried further by his two composer sons Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti. Three Sonatas For Double Bass are slightly simplified in this arrangement to be tackled by intermediate players (Grade 4-6) of the DoubleBass and the Piano. The Baroque tunes and rhythms will help to advance playing abilities in a highly enjoyable way.

La Contrebasse Pour Tous is an easy approach to the Double Bass that beginners of all musical abilities can use and enjoy. Giving beginners the confidence to approach the instrument the series strengthens the essential foundations of playing the instrument by extending the fingering exercises and the use of the left hand. This tuition book also helps young beginners and adult beginners to progress faster than others since the authority of an instructor and writer such as Jean-Loup Dehant gives students the best and most accurate information possible.

The Italian virtuoso Francesco Petracchi enjoys an international reputation both as a player and a teacher. This book is the essence of his teaching and explains his system of fingering in the thumb positions with clarity and with many musical examples.Grade: Advanced

Good work for examinations and recitals by an important British composer. Duration c.6'. AMEB (Australian Syllabus) 2004. Programme notes as follows:Lennox Berkeley was born in 1903 and died in 1989. After reading modern languages at Oxford he had no intention of becoming a composer until he met Ravel in 1926 who encouraged him to study in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He stayed in Paris until 1932 developing his own musical language. In 1936 after the death of his mother he went to Barcelona for the International Society for Contemporary Music festival where he met Benjamin Britten. The two lived together at Snape in Suffolk for a while until the outbreak ofwar before Berkeley moved back to London to work for the BBC. Here he met his future wife Freda Bernstein. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1946 until 1968 where his pupils included Richard Rodney Bennett Nicholas Maw and John Tavener among others. He was knighted in 1974. In early February 1971 I was playing in a concert at St. John's Smith Square London then only relatively recently restored as a superb venue for music. The programme which I believe was being broadcast included Berkeley's Serenade Op.12. It was a work I had always enjoyed playing and was standard string orchestra repertoire at the time. There was initially no platform at St. John's and so the audience sat virtually on top of the performers. So close were they on this occasion that I had to ask for a little more room in order to play. At the end of the piece the orchestra acknowledged the applause and the gentleman who I had all but practically decapitated with my over-enthusiastic playing stood up and took a bow. I had been almost playing in Lennox Berkeley's lap! The opportunity was too good to miss and I wasted little time in introducing myself. Mr Berkeley said that he had been fascinated by my playing and asked me to write to him about a possible commission.This I did on 6 February mentioning that

An interesting and cleverly created cooncerto that is enjoyable and easy on the ear! Composed in 1971 by Alan Ridout here are two simple movements with strings suitable for grades 5 and 8 and are set as part of the ABRSM examinations.

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!

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.

Bassoon trios selected and arranged from the Renaissance Baroque Classical Romantic and Modern eras by Graham Sheen (principal bassoon B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra). Seven substantial new pieces comprising score parts and detailed notes which teachers will find provide a wide range of technical and musical challenges while bon viveurs will enjoy an amusing and not too taxing prelude to the easing of the corks. Above all great fun! '... Splendid stuff Spartan!' - Double Reed News.Grade: 5 - 8

Par REINKE GERD. Method For Double Bass - Piano Accompaniment/ Méthode / Contrebasse et Piano

A petite concerto for Double bass with three well-contrasted movements. This is an enjoyable piece with nothing unmanageable for a moderately advanced player. A versatile piece for use in music club programmes as well as ABRSM Double Bass Syllabus. Orchestral material for strings with optional percussion (1 player: glock triangle tambourine xylophone).

Contrebasse Et Piano-Composed by Eugène Bozza Prélude And Allegro can be played by Double Bass Tuba or Saxhorn with a Piano accompaniment. Written in F for the Double Bass Tuba or Saxhorn this piece has an intermediate level of difficulty. Really enjoyable for the players and audiences Prélude and Allegro would be ideal for a recital. Eugène Bozza won different prizes at the Conservatoire de Paris such as the First Prizes for the Violin conducting and composition as well as the Grand Prix de Rome. He composed several operas chamber works and ballets among others.

American composer-bassist Armand Russell has created a wealth of music for double bass over the past fifty years and more recently has arranged a tasteful number of works for the instrument. This four movement sonata (Adagio Allegro Largo Presto) by Johann Joachim Quantz (1697-1773) offers a new and accessible transcription for the good intermediate bassist who is confident in low thumb position. Only available in orchestral tuning there are musical and technical challenges in equal measure and much to enjoy for performers and audiences alike. Sonata in G major is also available in two editions for double bass (or cello) trio andstring orchestra. The accompaniment is playable by piano or harpsichord and the limited range of dynamics allows each performer freedom to create their own unique performance and interpretation. 

The Suzuki philosophy is based upon the idea that children can learn music in the same manner they do their native language through repetitive listening. This listening is then followed up with 1) Individual instruction with a trained Suzuki teacher 2) Group lessons on a bi-weekly / weekly basis 3) Parent Involvement 4) Encouragement. Students begin lessons as early as two years old and through repetition of small and enjoyable steps begin building a music vocabulary.

The Suzuki Method® of Talent Education is based on Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's view that every child is born with ability, and that people are the product of their environment. According to Dr. Suzuki, a world-renowned violinist and teacher, the greatest joy an adult can know comes from developing a child's potential so he/she can express all that is harmonious and best in human beings. Students are taught using the 'mother-tongue' approach. Now available as a book and CD kit. / Contrebasse