Double Bass Questionnaire over the development of the double bass

[Heavystringsguy]

Please, feel free to answer any of these questions:

What was the earliest role of the double bass?

Did the double bass play a role in Baroque music? Such as doubling the basso continuo?

When and how did the double bass become a solo instrument? Did virtuosos such as Dragonetti or Bottesini have anything to do with this?

How would you describe the function of the double bass in chamber music? Additionally, has the role of the double bass in chamber music changed since the instrument's earliest use in this genre? If you would say that it did, how so?

What is the function of the double bass in an orchestra? Has the modern function changed since the earliest use of the double bass in an orchestra, if so, how so?

Which pedagogical text (method books, instructional treatises, etc.) had a significant impact on the performance of the double bass?

Are their any composers that write solo music for the double bass?

Just looking for information for a research paper for my music literature class. Thanks!

 

[User36336379]

Which pedagogical text (method books, instructional treatises, etc.) had a significant impact on the performanceof the double bass?

The F Simandl.

Franz Simandl was born August 1,1840 in Blatna, Bohemia.

As you know, the bass is probably still one of the most u uniform out of the string instruments (violin, viola, cello). Before this book there were a lot of playing styles and differences, but what simandl did with this book was take all the methods and make one uniform guide for everyone to follow. The book really emphases playing every note in every position and mastering the fingerboard. Really boring stuff, but really good stuff.

Sources: my teacher told me before I got it.

 

[Heavystringsguy]

That makes a lot of sense. The only pre Simandl book I have is storch-hrabe and it does seem like some of the ideas are more consistent in Simandl. At the least suggested fingerings seem more practical.