Easy classical solo that doesn't sound like kids music?

[dubul.bass]

I'd sure like to work up a solo piece without buying solo gauge strings. And I'm not ready for most of the pieces I've found such as Bottesini and Eccles. Does anyone have a suggestion for something easy to start with?

[ubasshudson]

Bourree, Opus 24 by WH Squire
Humoresque by Dvorak
Sonata in E minor, Opus 38 #1 by B Romberg
Danse Rustique by WH Squire
These are melodic cello solos that are in bass clef, sound sophisticated, and are way fun to play on bass.

[TomGale]

Go to ASODB.com and download "Reflections" - bass solo w/piano acc. 1 1/2 minutes - very melodic and its FREE!!! Enjoy! While you are there, might as well download the duet too.
Tom Gale

[Eli_Upright12]

The Scarlatti 3 sonatas might be an option they are on a level below the Eccles, certain movements have no thumb position and are very accessible in the lower registers.

[thedbassist]

Originally Posted by dubul.bass

I'd sure like to work up a solo piece without buying solo gauge strings. And I'm not ready for most of the pieces I've found such as Bottesini and Eccles. Does anyone have a suggestion for something easy to start with?

Get a teacher. He/she will be able to best judge what piece would be best suited for you based on your skill level.

[svenbass]

Subscribed

[MDEbass]

Capuzzi Concerto in F Major. It was my first and it sounds really cool with an accompaniment

[dchan]

Originally Posted by MDEbass

Capuzzi Concerto in F Major. It was my first and it sounds really cool with an accompaniment

Liar. Nobody likes the Capuzzi Concerto.

[Cory Palmer]

There is a Handel Sonata that is nice and pretty simple. I only have a copy of one movement so I don't have anymore specific information about the piece.

[charlespf]

Also you might want to check out a book called Ten Classical Pieces
It's a book of Sankey transcriptions, and has some Bach, Handel, Telemann, Stravinsky, and is all pretty simple.
I think they stock it at Lemur.

[MDEbass]

Originally Posted by dchan

Liar. Nobody likes the Capuzzi Concerto.

Let me clarify - i hate it playing by myself but with an accompaniment it really doesn't sound that bad. For someone who is asking for an easy classical solo, i would reccomend it.

[Beto]

Originally Posted by dchan

Liar. Nobody likes the Capuzzi Concerto.

I disagree. I think it's an excellent piece, and it is not for begginers, it's incredible how underrated it is because of its register and his humorous melodic lines... I think its way more better than the Dragonetti/Nanny concerto.

[dchan]

^ the problem with many bass concertos is that they act too much like a showcase of technical competence in advanced techniques than a true melodic line. Which is why I like Bottesini and his work: he was an opera composer and conductor, so he knew his melodies.

As for the Capuzzi: I agree it has a fun melody. But it's not a great piece precisely because of the register. It has nothing to do with the lesser technical accomplishments of the player; rather it has to do with the lower register sound. It's great and all when you're listening to a Paul Chambers solo, an orchestral bass section, or to yourself playing. But listening to a lower-register concerto from the audience, er, kinda sucks IMO on the bass.

Which brings me to this point: the concerto is kinda done in by the fact that only students and kids play this concerto, usually. If it were, say Gary Karr, playing it, it might be a different story because the man has a magnificent sound even in the lower registers - it would sound like "da-DA....da-DA..da-DA..DA-DA-da-da".

The videos on youtube show young bassists with general technical competence, but with a sound like "boom-boom...boom-boom..boom-Boom..Boom-Boom-boom boom". There's a reason why Francois Rabbath has said the lower registers, specifically half-position, is the hardest part to play - your sound down there simply sucks unless you really work on getting it clear and articulate.

[MDEbass]

i agree. but....we're are still talking about an easy beginner's classical solo, not bottesini. A beginner will not have particularly great range in playing, especially way high which many great solos feature. So...where do most people start learning? the lower register and work their ways up (i'm not saying that is always the case for everyone). That is why i think for an easier classical solo, capuzzi would be a good recomonedation. because for a beginner familiar with that lower range, it would be much easier to deal with a concerto written in a lower range

[thedbassist]

Originally Posted by dchan

^ the problem with many bass concertos is that they act too much like a showcase of technical competence in advanced techniques than a true melodic line. Which is why I like Bottesini and his work: he was an opera composer and conductor, so he knew his melodies.

As for the Capuzzi: I agree it has a fun melody. But it's not a great piece precisely because of the register. It has nothing to do with the lesser technical accomplishments of the player; rather it has to do with the lower register sound. It's great and all when you're listening to a Paul Chambers solo, an orchestral bass section, or to yourself playing. But listening to a lower-register concerto from the audience, er, kinda sucks IMO on the bass.

Which brings me to this point: the concerto is kinda done in by the fact that only students and kids play this concerto, usually. If it were, say Gary Karr, playing it, it might be a different story because the man has a magnificent sound even in the lower registers - it would sound like "da-DA....da-DA..da-DA..DA-DA-da-da".

The videos on youtube show young bassists with general technical competence, but with a sound like "boom-boom...boom-boom..boom-Boom..Boom-Boom-boom boom". There's a reason why Francois Rabbath has said the lower registers, specifically half-position, is the hardest part to play - your sound down there simply sucks unless you really work on getting it clear and articulate.

Maybe you've misinterpreted Francois, I'm pretty sure he was talking about the lower register being harder in a left hand sense because the strings are harder to push down and it is a more natural to just let your arm fall and play in fourth position than to raise your arm to play in first position(also the strings aren't as hard to press down in the upper register).

[dchan]

^ Nope, I don't think that's what he meant. I don't remember what he said word for word, but I'd say my interpretation was a lot closer.

Originally Posted by MDEbass

i agree. but....we're are still talking about an easy beginner's classical solo, not bottesini. A beginner will not have particularly great range in playing, especially way high which many great solos feature. So...where do most people start learning? the lower register and work their ways up (i'm not saying that is always the case for everyone). That is why i think for an easier classical solo, capuzzi would be a good recomonedation. because for a beginner familiar with that lower range, it would be much easier to deal with a concerto written in a lower range

Of course. I agree it's an good beginner's classical solo - actually I would consider it more intermediate to advanced level to play well, although it's easy to learn.

But my first post had nothing to do with range or the easiness of a piece.

[debassr]

Stairway to Heaven.
Seriously.

[koricancowboy]

Originally Posted by Beto

I disagree. I think it's an excellent piece, and it is not for begginers, it's incredible how underrated it is because of its register and his humorous melodic lines... I think its way more better than the Dragonetti/Nanny concerto.

Especially in D, it's original key.

[koricancowboy]

Another one to consider is the Pichl Concerto. Good piece and not over the top difficult.

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by dubul.bass

I'd sure like to work up a solo piece without buying solo gauge strings. And I'm not ready for most of the pieces I've found such as Bottesini and Eccles. Does anyone have a suggestion for something easy to start with?

I'd say most of (if not all) of the Vivaldi sonata's are easier than Eccles. Also there are the Marcello and Corelli sonata's that would be pretty easy.

Good luck!