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Double Bass Bach Suite #4 in D

#2
I don't know if there is a printed transposition, but you can download a midi file for free and then put it into any key you want with decent notation software. I personally prefer to play the 4th Suite in F, a minor 7th down from original pitch. It works especially well if you've got an extension. Otherwise, you should consider just learning to sight transpose. Orchestral brass players all need to do it. Why shouldn't we?
 
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#5
neilG said:
You're sure you want it in D? I just did this quickly. It's up to you to proof-read it and let me know if there are any mistakes.
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That actually looks kind of fun, especially if you had a "B" extension and latches. If so, it would be a terrific exercise for moving your gates quickly!
I think the OP is intending to play it down just a half step from original pitch, however. That would make it an octave higher.
 
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#6
neilG said:
Being a professional orchestral bassist AND married to a horn player, I can tell you it's really only the horn players that can do ANY transposition. And they have, what, ten notes to a page? :)
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I may have it all wrong, but I've been told that trumpet parts can be written for a C, Bb, or A trumpet, and the section may decide to use a different one than what was intended. I remember asking a guy who was explaining all this too me if it was stressful to do all that transposing. He said you do it so much you don't even think about it. I don't know about the trombones, but tubas come in C, Bb, or Eb. The parts are most always written in concert pitch, but some players regularly use instruments in more than one key, so they are also regularly transposing. Also, I'm thinking that there is plenty of orchestral literature whose horn parts contain way more than ten notes per page. Does your orchestra ever play any Richard Strauss?
 
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#7
Robo, I think there might be a language/humor barrier here. :) My point, jokingly, was that anybody but horn players in the brass section are transposing lightweights. Playing Bb parts on a C trumpet hardly counts. :) Put a piece of music in front of a horn player and they will be able to play it in ANY key, not just three. They'll bitch about it, but they can do it. The "ten notes per page" was also a joke. We played "Star Wars" last night. MANY more then ten notes per page in the horn parts. :) :)
Neil
 

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