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Double Bass Míšek Sonata no. 2

Mark_T

Mark_T

Aug 8, 2007
1,579
1,483
Copenhagen, DK / Bellingham, WA
#1
Has anyone clapped eyes on multiple editions of the Míšek sonata? I know there's a part on IMSLP but I was wondering if it was worth buying the Levinson or Hoffmeister edition, or some other transcription. I don't like the use of 8va in the IMSLP version, it's sort of distracting.

My preference would be for something that sticks to bass and treble clef rather than going for lots of ledger lines in tenor (why???), but I'm willing to read tenor if the engraving is clear and tidy.
 
#3
I’ve never used the Levinson, but the Hofmeister uses the same clefs as the one on IMSLP (i.e. bass clef, bass clef 8va, and tenor clef).

The edition on IMSLP is actually my preferred edition to work from because it has fewer editorial markings compared to the Hofmeister and Levinson.
 
#4
I'm pretty sure the IMSLP version is a scan of the Hofmeister. It says Hofmeister on one of the pages.

I don't know why my brain is struggling with the 8va, but it is. I'm sure I'll get used to it; I've adapted to worse conventions. I agree that fewer editorial markings are better; I'm not the most advanced bassist but I have been playing for a long time and I have a good teacher, so it's better for me to come up with my own ideas or get advice from a real expert.
 
#5
The IMSLP edition is a scan of an older edition of the Hofmeister. The edition you can purchase from Hofmeister today has more editorial markings than the one on IMSLP.

I think the reason your brain might be struggling with the octave notation is simply because it's unfamiliar: most of the time if we have to transpose an octave up it's in the lower register of the instrument (from a piano or tuba part) rather than in the "solo" register, where we usually see tenor or treble clef.
 
#6
the_Ryan said:
I think the might be struggling with the octave notation is simply because it's unfamiliar: most of the time if we have to transpose an octave up it's in the lower register of the instrument (from a piano or tuba part) rather than in the "solo" register, where we usually see tenor or treble clef.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the thing that really throws me is that, at least in the few instances, the melodic line looks like it could continue in the current octave when the 8va ends, but it doesn't. I would love for them to have broken the bars or something to give an additional visual indicator that the next note is like a 7th (or a 9th? I can't remember if the stepwise action is up or down) away rather than a step.
 
#8
I decided to make my own. I have a pretty fair rendition of the first and second movements written out with Lilypond. Planning to work through the last two movements. Haven’t decided about the piano part though. If anyone is working on it and is willing to give feedback or send bug reports, I am happy to share, just send me a DM.
 
#10
neilG said:
I'm curious as to why you would want to typeset your own piano part when there are commercial editions readily available. Seems like a lot of work. Douglas Mapp Music even has an orchestra tuning piano part if you want one.
Click to expand...

I don’t really want to. But as a performer it feels bad to hand an accompanist a part that I wouldn’t want to play from.

Then again, I can reasonably consider myself an expert at what bass music should look like but not at all for piano so maybe I should just leave well enough alone. In any case I still have 2 movements of bass to work through before I even glance at the available piano parts.
 

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