• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass moderate/advanced bass duet

Does anyone have any recommendations for good moderate to advanced double bass duets or trios? To give an idea of the difficulty I'm looking for, I play in a section of three pretty strong double basses (for a community orchestra, that is), who'll pull off a pretty convincing rendition of Beethoven 3 in a few weeks, and I've been working on the Dittersdorf concerto in my spare time.

Thoughts?
 
As long as you asked... I did a duet book - 19 duets - ranging from mod. easy to mod. difficult. You can try a free download of one of them. Just go to ASODB.com and download the free "Spirituals". The name of the book is "Melodic Duets for Double Bass" (also works with cello/bass)

Tom Gale:hyper:
 
As long as you asked... I did a duet book - 19 duets - ranging from mod. easy to mod. difficult. You can try a free download of one of them. Just go to ASODB.com and download the free "Spirituals". The name of the book is "Melodic Duets for Double Bass" (also works with cello/bass)

Tom Gale:hyper:

How would you classify the difficulty of that download (with respect to the other pieces in your book)?
 
How would you classify the difficulty of that download (with respect to the other pieces in your book)?

In the middle/slightly upper range. I tried to write them with heavy emphasis on melodic lines rather than just 'technique'. Also, with both parts moving independently rather than just block harmonies. Makes it more fun on either part. I did that duet for some small kiddie classes with bass/bass, cello/bass, and bassoon(!) and bass. All worked well.
Enjoy!
Tom Gale:bassist:
 
Another thought concerning duets. They make a great part of a lesson because the student will usually try to imitate the teacher in using vibrato, tone quality, dynamics, etc. Its amazing what can be taught in 5 or 10 minutes without saying a word!
TG:bassist:
 
me and my bass friend are actually playing a bassoon duet on bass. I'm not sure what book it came out of...its a photocopy my teacher made for me out of a bassoon duet book. I might suggest taking a look at duets that were written for instruments in a similar register as bass, such as maybe a cello or bassoon duet.