Double bass books/topics for internal assessment

storm10 · #1 01-08-2007, 09:03 PM

Hi, I am an IB (International Baccalaureate) student at my school and In my history class we have to do a internal assessment our topics have no limit. So I planned on writing mine on the topic of double bass. But I need a more specific topic, I thought of one topic and that is, the difference in the production of double basses today to that of 18th or 19th century. But I have a problem I need to find books that could relate to this topic. So what I am asking for is a suggestion of some books that could help me with my study and possibly some more topics I could write on.

Thanks,
Jared

reedo35 · #2 01-09-2007, 06:01 AM

Why don't you just do a topic on Double Bass Design, from the 1600's Viol to the Ergonomic Basses around today?
Start with Elgar's book.

jsbarber · #3 01-09-2007, 06:57 AM

I am not a luthier, but I suspect that you will find that the design and the build approach has not changed very much. The old Italian basses from that period are generall considered to be the highest form of the art. Many luthiers are attempting to reproduce instruments of that caliber. You might want to discuss another aspect of the double bass, as was suggested above. Or you might look at regional differences in design, or some other aspect of interest. Try perusing the ISB website:

http://www.isbworldoffice.com/

I think that you will find good references there. Here is source for some info, including a thesis on the acoustic differences between flatback and curved back basses.

http://www.awbmusic.com/acoustics/index.htm

It will lead you to other references.

Jim

billyfalconer · #4 01-09-2007, 08:08 AM

You might do a survey of the different uses of carbon fiber in basses and bows today. Also, basses were built from aluminum and fiberglass in the last century.

storm10 · #5 01-09-2007, 06:03 PM

Hi everyone, I talked to my teacher today about it, my current topic is "To what extent has the production of basses changed from century to century and how has this affected the quality of basses." Thanks for some of the ideas just more stuff to go through my head.

Jared

Baird · #6 01-09-2007, 10:32 PM

Sounds like a cool topic for sure! You IB folks are definately some cool kids (When I lived in Austin I went to an IB school and was gonna do IB but then transferred to Midway in Waco which is not IB)!

On a different note...
Did you try out for region/make it? If so which chair were ya? The auditions were at Temple HS if I remember correctly...

Ryan

PoorPlayer · #7 01-10-2007, 08:26 AM

Check out the history section on Bob Gollihur's excellent links page. You might find references to texts there that may help your research.

storm10 · #8 01-10-2007, 07:50 PM

I don't play in orchestra, just jazz band. I do play bassoon though and i played it in the region orchestra.

arnoldschnitzer · #9 01-11-2007, 06:52 AM

I suggest you contact Stephen Sas; ssas1012@aol.com . Steve did his doctoral dissertation at Julliard on a similar subject. You should see if you can get a copy. I've told Steve he should publish it...