Double Bass Individual bass parts?

[samshreves]

Greetings bass hive mind!

I like to have actual bound bass parts from the publisher instead of the stuff you print from IMSLP. Does anyone know if I can get bass individual parts for any piece that could be asked on an audition? I tried looking around on the publishers' websites, the problem being that Barenreiter will only sell me a minimum of 2 parts.

 

[MikeCanada]

Check your local violin family/string/bass shop, or another shop that has a decent sized sheet music department. I found complete parts for quite a few different works at one in Toronto, where they basically had purchased an entire orchestral folio (or whatever you call it) of parts, and were selling them individually. They weren't all that expensive although I am sure the shop was making a good profit over purchasing all the individual parts for the whole orchestra, but I personally don't need 8 second violin parts and everything else. If you don't have a local shop with a large sheet music collection, it would be worth an email and/or a phone call to one that does. If they do sell individual parts and you give them a list of what you are looking for, they can put it all together when they've got some down time and both of you are happy.

When you say that Barenreiter will only sell you a minimum of 2 parts, does that mean you have to purchase individual parts in twos like two copies of the bass part for Beethoven 5? If that is the case, and they are willing to do it for a large selection of orchestral works, there are likely enough of us on Talkbass that would be interested in "real" parts where we could put together a bulk order and they could be distributed from there. I have a Beethoven 5 part, but there are plenty of others out there that I would like to get my hands on. Food for thought.

 

[samshreves]

Check your local violin family/string/bass shop, or another shop that has a decent sized sheet music department. I found complete parts for quite a few different works at one in Toronto, where they basically had purchased an entire orchestral folio (or whatever you call it) of parts, and were selling them individually. They weren't all that expensive although I am sure the shop was making a good profit over purchasing all the individual parts for the whole orchestra, but I personally don't need 8 second violin parts and everything else. If you don't have a local shop with a large sheet music collection, it would be worth an email and/or a phone call to one that does. If they do sell individual parts and you give them a list of what you are looking for, they can put it all together when they've got some down time and both of you are happy.

When you say that Barenreiter will only sell you a minimum of 2 parts, does that mean you have to purchase individual parts in twos like two copies of the bass part for Beethoven 5? If that is the case, and they are willing to do it for a large selection of orchestral works, there are likely enough of us on Talkbass that would be interested in "real" parts where we could put together a bulk order and they could be distributed from there. I have a Beethoven 5 part, but there are plenty of others out there that I would like to get my hands on. Food for thought.

Thanks! Good idea - it never even crossed my mind to call up a local string shop to see what they have.

Yes, from the online store, they were making me purchase individual parts in twos or more. They're making violinists buy 4 parts/order - I consider us lucky! I thought the "minimum of 2 parts per order" rule was just a Barenreiter thing, but I had to order a Haydn 88 part from Breitkopf and they do the same thing. I ended up emailing the Breitkopf sales people, sending them my information, and they sent me an invoice. Easy enough, but I wouldn't want to do it a lot. Let me know if you decide to the bulk order thing - that would be awesome.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I understand that you are interested in bound parts from the publisher, but it seems you're having difficulties finding them. As another thought, I print the individual sheets from IMSLP and stick the pages together with paper tape, which I found at an artists' supply store. That way I can lay out the pages four-wide across my music stand and slide the whole shebang to the left for additional pages.

 

[MikeCanada]

It might be your local string shop, but it might also be a band department, general music store, or something else. There is a shop that largely specializes in selling pianos, yet has a basement full of all of the theory, history, harmony, counterpoint etc. books that tends to be fairly hard to come by. And the one that I really enjoyed was a small town appliance (fridge, washer, dryer, etc.) place that had an extremely impressive sheet music department as well. Sometimes you have to think outside the box a little bit and ask around, but you might be able to find something in meat space that better suits your needs than online/directly through a distributor.

Michael, I too have printed IMSLP parts, and taped entire symphonies together when I needed to learn something I did not have access to otherwise. It wouldn't be my first choice not only because of the amount of work involved, but also because a lot of the parts online have been reduced from whatever that weird size of paper is that orchestral parts are printed on, so when you go to print on standard paper (8 1/2 x 11" in North America, most of Europe uses metric paper which could also be part of the problem) the parts often end up distorted or smaller than you would like them to be. The other thing I have noticed is that sometimes IMSLP has different editions copied from what you often see orchestras renting, which can take a little while to adapt to if the page turns are in a different place, you're mentally prepared for that thing on page 5 that ends up coming at the bottom of page 4 instead etc. While it is a solution, and a very helpful one in many cases, sometimes it would be really nice to have the individual "real" parts.

As far as a group/mass order goes, I am currently in the middle of a move and not in a position to dedicate the time needed to compile a list of potential parts, collect interest here on Talkbass, and then distribute them. I don't even know where my mail goes at my new place, and would have to look up the address. If you've got some spare time and want to put it together Sam I'd be interested, but I'm not the guy at this point in time.

 

[MusikFind1]

Thanks! Good idea - it never even crossed my mind to call up a local string shop to see what they have.

Yes, from the online store, they were making me purchase individual parts in twos or more. They're making violinists buy 4 parts/order - I consider us lucky! I thought the "minimum of 2 parts per order" rule was just a Barenreiter thing, but I had to order a Haydn 88 part from Breitkopf and they do the same thing. I ended up emailing the Breitkopf sales people, sending them my information, and they sent me an invoice. Easy enough, but I wouldn't want to do it a lot. Let me know if you decide to the bulk order thing - that would be awesome.

 

[MusikFind1]

Individual orchestra parts for works that are PD in the U.S. can be ordered from Edwin F. Kalmus. It is best to order several titles at a time to cover the shipping costs that every publisher charges.

For Beethoven, Mozart, Mahler, etc. these may not be the critical editions that major orchestras use. Kalmus does publish corrected editions for many Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens etc. works. Kalmus also reprints most of the standard editions of Breitkopf parts are they are PD.

Check the Kalmus catalog to see what is available.
Edwin F. Kalmus LC. - Music Publishers - Official Site
Click on Search Catalog and add a composer’s name.
Click Search.
Click on the “A” number that shows in the left column.
The individual part price will be at the bottom of each work list.

Example: Ravel Daphnis et Chloe Suite II is $9.00 per part.

How to order:
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