Bass Solos

[harpster0123]

I am a bassist in Las Vegas, NV, and I am required to play a solo at my school every semester in order to prove that we are proficient at our instrument. My question to you guys is, do you know any crazy, obscure, interesting, or completely rediculous classical (in the vaguest sense of classical anyway) double bass solos to end my senior year with a bang? I really need something that will drive my teachers insane, and possibly a good laugh from my fellow peers.

[koricancowboy]

Check out Theraps by Xenakis
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages....k=&r=wwws-err5 for the sheet music and http://www.rhapsody.com/iannisxenaki...b1958voile1995 to listen. Have fun it's awesome but hard as hell!

[Pat Harris]

Frank Proto writes some amazing music that is challenging to the bassist and listener. www.liben.com

Concerto #2
Concerto #3
9 Variants on Paganini
Ode to a Giant
Carmen Fantasy

Just a few...

[TomGale]

I wrote a short one for bass and piano - moderate level - and the best part is that it is FREE! (bass players love that)
Just go to asodb.com and download it.
Tom Gale
asodb.com

[damonsmith]

Might be free, but not outlandish. You could try "taxi" by Joëlle Léandre, that is a really good one. The music is playable but a challenge and there is text about fitting the bass in a taxi.
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/065744/details.html

"Theraps" is especially tough due the score not really representing what Xenakis wants, which is mostly a very controlled glissando, I have the score though, and I have learned a lot from it.

[TomGale]

I remember Gary doing a narration/solo and I think the name was "Failing". Great! If I have the name wrong I'm sure 'someone' will correct it. Give it a try.
TG

[jaebee]

prelude from the cello suites from bach

[NotACello]

valentine!

[damonsmith]

"Failing" by Tom Johnson and "Valentine" by Jacob Druckman are fantastic but pretty advanced. I have the score to Valentine, it is beautiful.

[ispider6]

I can't believe nobody suggested "Last Contrabass in Las Vegas" by Eugene Kurtz. It was written for Turetsky. Seeing as you're from there, it's gotta be a perfect fit. It's written for double bass and female narrator but I've known people who included a female dancer (all clad in sexy vestments) to add a visual aspect to the story (it was very effective... believe me). I've also known someone who performed the bass part dressed in an Elvis jumpsuit. The narrator basically discusses how sexy she finds the double bass while the bass demonstrates its versatility. You gotta check it out... also see here.

[davidzgeorge]

do BB Wolf! Similar to "Failing", but probably even harder....

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by ispider6

I can't believe nobody suggested "Last Contrabass in Las Vegas" by Eugene Kurtz. It was written for Turetsky. Seeing as you're from there, it's gotta be a perfect fit. It's written for double bass and female narrator but I've known people who included a female dancer (all clad in sexy vestments) to add a visual aspect to the story (it was very effective... believe me). I've also known someone who performed the bass part dressed in an Elvis jumpsuit. The narrator basically discusses how sexy she finds the double bass while the bass demonstrates its versatility. You gotta check it out... also see here.

Good call, I have the LP Bert Recorded it on.

[Anonymous75966]

Originally Posted by harpster0123

... crazy, obscure, interesting, or completely rediculous classical (in the vaguest sense of classical anyway) double bass solos to end my senior year with a bang? I really need something that will drive my teachers insane, and possibly a good laugh from my fellow peers.

Theraps? Yawn. Valentine? Done to death. Failing? No one ever plays it right.

You want obscure? Hanne Darboven: Opus 17a. It's not super technical - but it's 70 minutes long. Oh yeah.
http://www.ubu.com/sound/darboven.html

Seriously though -

James Tenney, "Beast"
Scelsi, "Maknongan" - which is written for any low instrument, but Joelle's got a great recording of it.
Think I've asked this here before, but has anyone run across Fernando Grillo's solo bass suite?

[Mr.Phil]

Originally Posted by davidzgeorge

do BB Wolf! Similar to "Failing", but probably even harder....

+ 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEuUD7HzOYY

[Aaron M]

Originally Posted by ispider6

I can't believe nobody suggested "Last Contrabass in Las Vegas" by Eugene Kurtz. It was written for Turetsky. Seeing as you're from there, it's gotta be a perfect fit. It's written for double bass and female narrator but I've known people who included a female dancer (all clad in sexy vestments) to add a visual aspect to the story (it was very effective... believe me). I've also known someone who performed the bass part dressed in an Elvis jumpsuit. The narrator basically discusses how sexy she finds the double bass while the bass demonstrates its versatility. You gotta check it out... also see here.

I was going to suggest that. This performance you saw with the Elvis jumpsuit didn't happen to take place at Eastman did it?

[moopants]

...Bottesini?

[mcnaire2004]

The Hindemith is a challenging peace to the ear.

Valentine is a interesting piece.

[harpster0123]

I decided to go with the Xenakis song "Theraps". I didn't even know that he made a bass solo, I've listened to a ton of his orchestral stuff though, and although its extremely weird, I really enjoy it sometimes.

Theraps is just hilarious though, I just got the sheet music yesterday, and its insane. Never had to play in quarter steps before, usually most people just call that "out-of-tune".
haha

Thank you for all of you who suggested these, except for the guy who said Bottesini, I hope you didn't actually read what kind of a solo i was really looking for, because the Bottesini concerto is the only bass solo that I actually enjoy listening to, other than Edgar Meyers concerto.