18 Lektionen / 18 Lessons-The long awaited Sassmannshaus method Early Start on the Double Bass is now here. At last students of the largest instrument in the string family can make use of this tried and tested method for beginners developed by Egon Sassmannshaus for the other string instruments and applied here to the double bass by Holger Sassmannshaus and J. Peter Close. This method will meet the needs of the growing number of young bass students. “Early Start on the Double Bass” encompasses everything that one would expect from a Sassmannshaus method: an easy start progression at a suitable rate many cross-references to the other string instruments songsand scales in different positions from early on as well as many duets. Lively and colourful illustrations by Charlotte Panowsky complete the edition. For more than three decades “The Sassmannshaus Tradition” has been the household name for excellence in beginner string methods in German-speaking countries. The English editions for violin viola and violoncello which were introduced to the international market in 2008 have proven to be very successful particularly in the United States. Kids to the Bass!While children learning other string instruments can start as early as the age of four the appropriate age to begin the double bass is approximately eight (possibly even six); this allows for a faster progression than on the other string instruments and the method consists of only three volumes. The first volume will be published separately in an English and a German edition; the following two volumes will have German and English text in each book. Original compositions by Boguslaw Furtok enrich the volumes. Based on the tried-and-tested Sassmannshaus methods for violin viola and cello Volume 1: Separate editions in German and English Volumes 2 and 3: Bilingual German/English editions Moderate increase in difficulty Position playing duets Includes new original compositions by B. Furtok Volume 3 with piano accompaniments to 7 pieces The authorsHolger Sassmannshaus is a double bass player with the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker in

New Technique for the Double Bass part 5- Bass player François Rabbath born in 1931 in Aleppo is a real character in the world of music. He settled in Paris in 1955 where he played with the stars (Barbara Aznavour…) while continuing as a classical instrumentalist. Throughout the four preceding volumes Rabbath’s Nouvelle technique de la contrebasse presented in a four-language version (French English German and Spanish) endeavours to free the pupil from the shackles of traditional teaching. Always guided by the same conviction -that there is no need to torture one’s body to become an instrumentalist - Rabbath rounds off his educational epic with this fifth book which will offer great musical pleasure to the trainee bass player who can take pride in having overcome the technical difficulties covered in the first four books. This collection includes real concert pieces - works of great charm such as the nostalgic Cri de Venise for double bass and piano and the Troisième Concerto with its enveloping lyricism as well as short pieces such as Souviens-tu des douze peupliers and the irresistible Mama Bahija for bass drum and organ.

With little existing in the way of study books for the Double Bass François Rabbath's (b.1931) three volume series New Technique for the Double Bass is welcomed by all performers of the instrument. Syrian-born Rabbath moved to Paris in 1955 to further his studies on the Double Bass. He soon began composing for the instrument as well as transcribing works of other composers for the instrument. The second volume of New Technique for the Double Bass is a significant contribution to the field of Double Bass pedagogy and covers scales arpeggios bowing among other aspects and also containsexercises and studies. As a virtuoso player of the instrument himself frequently performing as a soloist Rabbath compiles this technical study book with vast knowledge and experience. Being such a prominent double bassist Rabbath's New Technique for the Double Bass is a well-informed and essential accompaniment to all all Double Bass studies. Moreover New Technique for the Double Bass contains written instruction in English French German and Spanish making for a highly versatile book.

John McCabe's Pueblo for solo Double Bass. Duration: approx. 7 minutes. Pueblo is an off-shoot of a series of compositions inspired by desert country and it was commissioned by Leon Bosch with the aid of funds provided by North West Arts. The piece is continous falling into several sections and is largeley based on the high circling motif heard at the start and referred to again in the harmonics at the close. It is prefaced by the following quotation from Scenes in American Deserta by Reyner Banham published by Thames and Hudson: 'Clouds high and flat were now building up in thesky the wind was settling to silent calm the weather was very cold and the stream through the center of the pueblo was almost frozen across the Indians chipping out ice to melt down for water.' The aim in writing the piece was to express in musical terms a response to the vivid picture of a scene relating to life in the American desert conveyed by Reyner Banham's text. Although not numbered among other Desert works this belongs to this family of compositions along with another Banham setting written for the King's Singers Scenes In America Deserta. - John McCabe

Par MASSARD DANIEL. '[La répétition] des trente-six contrebasses surtout fut curieuse. Quand nous en vînmes au trait du scherzo de la symphonie en ut mineur de Beethoven, qui figurait dans le programme, il nous sembla entendre les grognements d'une cinquantaine de porcs effarouchés : telle était l'incohérence et le défaut de justesse de l'exécution de ce passage. Peu à peu cependant elle devint meilleure, l'ensemble s'établit et la phrase apparut nettement dans toute sa sauvage rudesse'. Hector Berlioz, Mémoires, Chapitre LIII Dans ses Mémoires, Hector Berlioz, compositeur français de l'époque romantique (1803-1869) se tenait 'pour satisfait de pouvoir organiser et diriger un concert gigantesque' pour lequel il parvint 'à réunir un personnel de mille vingt deux exécutants'. Cette citation relate les répétitions partielles (par pupitre) du scherzo de la cinquième symphonie de Beethoven placées sous sa direction pour un concert exceptionnel donné à Paris lors de l'Exposition des produits de l'industrie en 1844. Ce scherzo réputé difficile pour la justesse, la conduite de l'archet et la manière de l'interpréter devenait particulièrement délicat, exécuté par un pupitre de trente-six contrebasses. Depuis l'époque de Berlioz, l'apprentissage de la contrebasse a évolué. Les professeurs enseignant dans les structures musicales permettent à nos élèves de devenir de vrais contrebassistes, de vrais techniciens, de vrais professionnels, de vrais musiciens. Néanmoins, le travail de pupitre (ou répétitions partielles) reste indispensable. Contrebassiste au sein de l'Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse pendant quarante ans, mon expérience professionnelle m'a permis de découvrir un vaste répertoire musical. De la musique symphonique à la musique de chambre en passant par le répertoire lyrique, j'ai pu aborder tous les styles de musique depuis l'époque baroque à la musique contemporaine. Les grands chefs d'orchestre qui m'ont dirigé m'ont appris à connaître tous les grands compositeurs de notre musique occidentale, la manière d'interpréter une oeuvre, de la comprendre et de l'analyser. Nous devons écouter et surtout entendre. J'ai voulu donc, par ce premier recueil, transmettre ce que j'avais appris à l'Orchestre et permettre aux élèves de découvrir ce répertoire musical. Professeur de contrebasse au CRD de Montauban, j'ai mis au programme du premier cycle et expérimenté avec mes élèves tous les textes présentés dans ce recueil. Les jeunes contrebassistes ont toujours été très sensibles au travail des extraits musicaux. Ils sont au contact avec la Musique. Afin de parachever leur travail personnel, il est souhaitable qu'ils écoutent les musiques étudiées (enregistrements et concerts). Ces acquisitions leur permettront de découvrir les compositeurs et d'apprendre le langage musical. Ce recueil pédagogique offre un voyage musical de l'époque baroque à l'époque postromantique (de Johann Sebastian Bach à Camille Saint-Saëns). Il est destiné aux élèves du premier cycle des conservatoires et écoles de musique. Les professeurs pourront commencer à l'aborder dès la première année. Tous les extraits musicaux sont tirés du répertoire d'orchestre : de chambre, lyrique et symphonique. Ils sont joués dans la tonalité originale. Les coups d'archet originaux sont notés en noir. Les coups d'archet préconisés par les contrebassistes professionnels jouant dans les plus grandes formations orchestrales symphoniques ou lyriques en France et à l'étranger sont ajoutés en rouge. Daniel Massard Contrebassiste à l'Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Professeur au CRD de Montauban. Je remercie mes élèves de la classe de contrebasse du Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Montauban, les bibliothécaires de l'Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse et Véronique Lafargue, docteur en musicologie. / Niveau : 1er Cycle / classique / Méthode / Contrebasse

I ACROSS / INNOVERII OCTOPHONIAIII SEARCHING / SØKENDEDedicated to Bjørn IankeEdited with fingering and bowing by Bjørn IankeDuration: 14 min.