what about classical music?

[The Ethanator]

been a while since ive posted here on tb, but this is something ive been pondering the past few weeks. im a double music major at southeast missouri state university (french horn performance and composition), and am self taught at bass guitar. i own both a 4-string and a 6-string, and last semester for my jury submitted a short piece in D major for 4-string bass guitar. now, im aware that many bassists and arrangers have taken classical pieces (such as bach's unaccompanied cello suites) and arranged them for bass guitar, but what abut original compositions written specifically for bass?

this is my theory:
the bass guitar was designed as a way to use a different approach to the upright bass, and many bass lines written for upright bass were adapted to the bass guitar. many composers write music for classical nylon-string guitars, but seeing as the bass guitar is tuned an octave lower, plus frets spaced farther apart and wider string spacing, playing chords along with a melody line such as is done on a classical guitar is more difficult. composers have also written concertos for upright bass, and many would argue that the upright has already filled the niche for a stringed instrument in the bass range. however, with the addition of 2 extra strings and 24 frets as opposed to the more limited range of an upright, why not write classical pieces specifically for 6-string bass? my approach is more single-note lines, inspired by cello parts and the like. while the bass guitar did com from the upright, a 6-string especially requires different technique, so is arguably a different instrument altogether.

does anybody know of composers who have written classical music for bass guitar beside transcriptions of pieces written for other instruments? i can upload a link to the piece i wrote last semester when i get back from class, but until then, any information regarding this topic would be appreciated. thanks!

[Mayers]

Well John Patitucci wrote a Variation for 6 strings bass with orchestra. Very nice. Otherwise I don't know.

[BassChuck]

Writting concertos and solo pieces for lower pitched instruments presents special set of problems musically. What you've said about the bass guitar as a unique instrument is true, but frankly, I would say that the amplification is more important that the frets or number of strings. An interesting project might be reviving the 'Concerto Grosso' concept with all electronic instruments. Concerto for Electric Guitar, Electric bass and strings might be interesting.

I too studied performance on French horn and am a self-taught bassist. Someone you might be interested in talking to would be Frank Proto here in Cincinnati. He was a bassist with CSO and while there, composed a piece for Synclavier and orchestra.

[Russell L]

Although the bass guitar is a different instrument from the double bass, I feel that the most pronounced differences lie in the fact that most bass guitars need to be amplified, and moreso in the fact that they are not typically played arco. I have often tried to emulate arco by tapping a string as fast as possible with two fingers, but it invariably has a beating sound. Nonetheless, I think your idea is praiseworthy, seeing that there is an endless stream of possibilities for the instrument. The good news is that you will be at the forefront (along with only a very few) of discovering those possibilities. It is due to such thinking and wonderment that all great music of the past has been developed. Good luck in your endeavor.