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Double Bass Recommend solo bass pieces?

Tom Lane

Tom Lane

Gold Supporting Member
Apr 28, 2011
3,594
5,175
Southwest Los Angeles, CA, USA
#1
Sorry if this has been addressed before. I'm a jazzer and I'm looking for some classical solo bass repetoire, but there seems to be a lot available with lilttle detailed information.

I will ask my teacher, but I thought I'd get a set of opinions too, editions, etc. Links to Amazon are particularly helpful.

I'm an advanced-intermediate player but I don't read the dots very well, though I'm actively working on that shortcoming. My primary motivation to ask is for new ideas for my jazz solos, although I'd genuinely like to learn more of the classical repetoire because I think I'm starting to top-out on playing jazz heads.
 
#2
The Bach cello suites are always great to look at. They are fantastic and can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. There are editions in "bass friendly" keys, typically "up" a 4th or 5th but sounding down the opposite, or you can stick to original keys up or down the octave.

There is a lot of great Bottesini rep out there ranging from extremely demanding to quite playable for someone who self identifies like you do. Thomas Martin and Joel Quarrington have both extensively covered his works in recordings, so you can have a listen and pick something you like.

Otherwise, I'm not a big fan of solo bass repertoire. There is a lot of great cello music that can be borrowed, and it's really up to your preference. Several sheet music sights offer "previews" where they typically let you see the first page. That might help you get a sense of what the music is like. Likewise, if tenor clef isn't in your wheelhouse, you will want to find out if the editions you are looking at use it or not.

Happy hunting.
 
#3
I did a short solo piece called "Reflections" and it's FREE! Just go to asodb.org and hit the free downloads. You have to leave your name and address but it's worth it. There is also a nice duet and other stuff.
Tom Gale
 
#7
Capuzzi Concerto for db and piano is something I'm working on. Also the Marcello Sonatas are really nice - especially I in F maj. Rabbath Book II is a nice collection of etudes. The Vance books are great.
 
#8
In addition to the above solo works, I'd recommend the Simandl 30 Etudes. I consider them the meat and potatoes of bass playing preparation. Once you finish that book, you are ready for anything you'd ever see in a community orchestra, should you ever decide to go that route.
 
#11
If you're looking for a real challenge, check out the Dittersdorf concerto in D Major. You can play it in either Viennese tuning (the preferred tuning, and the one that it was written for; therefore, it will be the easiest in that tuning), solo tuning (played either in D Major (using C major orchestral tuning fingerings) or E major (D Major orchestral tuning fingerings)), or you could play it in orchestral tuning in D Major.
In my opinion, in any tuning except for viennese tuning, it's an absolute B*TCH to play well. Lots of awkward passages with regards to string crossings in particular. But overall, it's a good challenge and you'll certainly learn a lot from it. Plus, European orchestras require a classical era concerto only (NO bottesini, Kouss, etc.) for their auditions.
 
#13
jaff said:
Capuzzi Concerto for db and piano is something I'm working on. Also the Marcello Sonatas are really nice - especially I in F maj. Rabbath Book II is a nice collection of etudes. The Vance books are great.
Click to expand...

+1 for the Marcello sonatas and I also love the Vivaldi sonatas and Bottesini's Reverie is a lovely piece.
 
#15
samshreves said:
If you're looking for a real challenge, check out the Dittersdorf concerto in D Major. You can play it in either Viennese tuning (the preferred tuning, and the one that it was written for;
Click to expand...

Great piece for practicing (playing the 1st and 2nd movement right now) But not much use playing in Viennese tuning. First of all you will need a 5 string bass and also this tuning is not not what you will use normally. So I would suggest using the normal tuning (solo or orchestral doesn't matter).
 
#19
All of the suggestions are great, but I would suggest maybe looking more closely at Baroque or Classical literature if you are primarily interested in upping your reading while looking for vocab. The scalar/chordal nature of a lot of the bass rep from these periods makes for easy plugging in over changes.

My old teacher once reharmonized the first movement of the Corelli sonata for fun. It was pretty hip if I recall.
 
#20
The Eccles sonata is fun to start with along with Bottesini's elegy. The Elegy was the first real solo piece i tackled.

Also get the 6 Vivaldi cello sonata's, there's a book with all six in it, great to work your way through for technique and for making music.
 

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