Very little is known about the two sonatas which appear here in their original keys. They were placed in the library of the Music School in Oxford at the end of the seventeenth century in a form convenient for playing (i.e. unbound). The library was catalogued by Hake between 1850 and 1855 and the sonatas were eventually bound in 1855 with other instrumental and vocal manuscripts of the same period some of which are dated 1698.The sonatas are both inscribed on the title page Sonata à Violone Solo. Col Basso per l'Organo o Cembalo. A third sonata bears the words Sonata à Violino e Violoncino … di Giovannino del Violone. Giovannino(=Little or Young John) must have been a performer and although the third sonata has been copied by a different hand it is conceivable that Giovannino is a connecting link between the three. He cannot however be assumed to be their author.The Violone was a six-stringed instrument with frets and there is evidence to suggest that the Contrabasso of the same period was similar but probably a little larger; the Violoncino (=Little Violone or Violoncello) must have been smaller. The word 'Violone' was also used as a collective term embracing all members of the Viol family which means that the sonatas might well have been written for a tenor or a bass Viol and not necessarily a Violone as such. Indeed when they are played on a Violone or Double Bass the continuo bass line must be played at a lower pitch than the solo instrument to prevent inversion of the intended harmony. (The use of a Violone/Double Bass continuo or 16' organ tone would overcome this problem.)The editor has added no ornaments or embellishments to the solo part as it appears in the original manuscript. It is open to debate whether a Violone player owing to the very nature of his instrument would have used any but the simplest melodic decorations. Nevertheless the performer should acquaint himself thoroughly with those seventeenth century traditions that

This new publication replaces the old Latham edition (now out of print) - popular title on both ABRSM and TG double bass syllabuses (grade 7).Dennis Leogrande writes:I began writing the melody first although every piece begins differently. I wanted to begin with a sound that for me is very characteristic of the bass that being the ½ step slide from G# to A. Looking throughout the piece you will notice other slides ie. bars 1 3 5 7 12 14 16 18 38 58 114 116 18 120 123 125 and 127. Please don't forget to notice the grace note slide in measure 100. These are the melodic motifs that give the piece its character and act as hooks(memorable ideas) for the listener to latch on to. Once I began writing the melody it just grew organically from the original idea. I hope you feel the same organic growth. The shifting harmonic tonalities (between D major and D minor) seem to ask the question 'May I?' and keep the listener involved in trying to answer the question. The jazz style keeps the 'question' light hearted a little 'tongue in cheek.' However playing this piece requires attention to these details and a great deal of musicianship. It's the fine musician who understands both the music and the instrument who can make a difficult and complicated piece sound easy light and fun. Oh and yes please enjoy!

SOLO TUNING See RM722 for Orchestral Tuning The 'Dragonetti Concerto' was first published in 1925 by Alphonse Leduc in Paris as No.23 of Edouard Nanny's 'Les Classiques de la Contrebasse'. For many years no one questioned its authenticity, but as more research into Dragonetti's original works for double bass was made, concerns began to arise. Many of Dragonetti manuscripts survive in the British Library, thanks to Vincent Novello who donated them in 1849, three years after Dragonetti's death and on Novello's retirement to Italy, but there is no original manuscript for this work. As bassists began to edit and perform a wide range of Dragonetti's works it became clear that this concerto bore little resemblance to any of his other pieces. The work does, however, have many similarities to Nanny's Concerto for double bass, also to his other solo works and even studies from his Method. Eventually most people came to the conclusion that this work is not an original work by the great Venetian bassist but is by Edouard Nanny, and in the style of the late 18th-century. Having said that, this is still a charming and evocative work which has much player and audience appeal and is very easy on the ears. Many of the challenges for the soloist are technical and, almost a century after its first publication, it is still as popular as ever. Published in 1925, the first movement was performed at London's Wigmore Hall on 15 April the following year by Victor Watson (double bass) and Sidney Crooke (piano), and was described a 'Contrabass Concerto by Dragonetti-Nanny. ERRATA: Piano part: page 8 (1st movement), bar 87 - final chord of bar in right hand should be D/E/G# - a dominant 7th chord in A major Edouard Nanny was an important French double bassist and teacher, also composing and transcribing many works for double bass. He was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 24 March 1872 and he studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Professor Verrimst, also teaching there from 1920-1940. He performed often as a soloist, also working as an orchestral bassist with many orchestras such as the Paris Symphony Orchestra, Concerts Lamoureux and the Orchestra de l'Opera Comique, and in 1901 he founded the Henry Casadeus Society of Old Instruments, chaired by Camille Saint-Saens, and intended to revive the works from the past centuries. Nanny's Method for double bass is still in print, over 90 years since its first publication and both volumes contain a wealth of excellent technical studies and exercises which are as relevant today as they were in the 1920s. His other volumes of studies are mostly out of print and Recital Music plan to reprint some of his orginal works for double bass, transcriptions and educational music to keep alive the name of Edouard Nanny into the 21st-century. Edouard Nanny died in Paris in 1942.

A Tear-A beautiful and poignant lament which is ideally suited to the double bass. Originally for cello this new edition returns to the cello version [Theme & Variations] adding an extended (but optional) piano introduction and demonstrates the dark and soulful colours of the solo double bass. Long flowing phrases allow the intermediate bassist to demonstrate both musical and technical accomplishment in an accessible range of the instrument. The soulful and wistful melody transcribes beautifully for double bass allowing the instrument to display its bel canto and lyrical capabilities. A three bar section towards the end of the piece is playable as written or anocatve higher giving bassists the opportunity to play high harmonics within a beautiful and evocative melody. This is an ideal study or recital work with its supportive and pulsing accompaniment and has been one of Recital Music's bestsellers since it was published. Une Larme is also available for solo double bass and string orchestra accompaniment - please contact the publishers for further details. Grade 7 - Trinity-Guildhall / ABRSM / LCM / MTB Exams (www.mtbexams.com) 

The complete resource for the Grade 3 double bassist. Par . La série Grade By Grade (De degré par degré) tire sa substance du catalogue classique, contemporain et pédagogique riche et varié de Boosey

Les enseignants encore et encore demander faciles à jouer de la contrebasse musique appropriée pour des cours ou de la compétition Jugend Musiziert. Le compositeur Peter Wittrich de Munich a entrepris cette tâche et composé un cycle varié de sept pièces faciles pour contrebasse et piano. Toutes les pièces ont été essayées et testées en double-bass leçons et sont bien placées sur l'instrument. Certains peuvent même être joué dans la première position. La collection couvre différents styles, notamment les styles de musique populaire comme le blues ou de tango, tout en prenant thèmes bien connus de la musique classique, par exemple, de Bach ou de Beethoven, d'une manière humoristique. La partie de piano est plus exigeant afin que les réclamations faites sur le jeu d'ensemble sont un peu plus élevés. Un ajout intéressant au répertoire des cours et des concerts. / Contrebasse Et Piano

This Piano accompaniment book ideally compliments the Suzuki Bass School Volume 3 Bass Part book catalogue number 0874873762.The Suzuki Method® of Talent Education is based on Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's view that every child is born with ability and that man is the son of his environment. According to Dr. Suzuki a world-renowned violinist and teacher the greatest joy an adult can know comes from developing a child's potential so he/she can express all that is harmonious and best in human beings. Students are taught using the 'mother-tongue' approach.

Time Pieces For Double Bass Volumes 1 and 2 contain well-crafted arrangements and original compositions presented in chronological order from the sixteenth century right up to the present day.Pieces feature on the ABRSM Double Bass syllabus at Grades 1-6 (Volume 1: Grades 1-3 Volume 2: Grades 4-6) and are an invaluable source of repertoire for study in contrasting styles from Louis Couperin to Giles Swayne and William Byrd to Gavin Bryars. The arrangements have been designed to cover the note ranges and keys of the early grades.

Commissioned by Cheshire Libraries and Museums Services for Gary Karr. Benstead is an English composer who has written much music for Janet Smith and Dancers. The four movements Prelude Conversation Piece Lament and Finale are rhythmic and melodic. Duration c. 15'. Grade: 8

25 Easy Pieces from 5 Centuries in half and 1st Position-The ‘Easy Concert Pieces’ series presents a varied selection of easy concert pieces for double bass and piano from the Renaissance Baroque and Classical periods through to the modern era. To facilitate choosing individual pieces for performance and auditions at music schools competitions or examinations these pieces have been ordered according to level of musical and technical difficulty.Book 1 (ED 22551) contains pieces in half and first position. Pieces in each position and some using position changes are presented from each era. Simple techniques such as portato staccato and legato bowing are introduced along with pizzicato using rudimentary dynamics rangingfrom piano to forte crescendo and decrescendo and simple phrasing. The pieces selected here are varied in character with memorable tunes a few different time signatures and simple rhythms.Book 2 (ED 22552) in preperation.

Contrebasse Et Piano-Modern French composer Alfred Desenclos (1912-1971) created exceptional works for a variety of instruments. Aria Et Rondo for Double Bass and Piano published in 1952 is no exception. Desenclos won the 1942 Prix de Rome following studies at the Conservatory in Roubaix. The composer's compositional style is highly expressive and atmospheric with uses of extended technique. Aria Et Rondo reflects these aspects with a typical performance lasting about 12 minutes. For all advanced Double Bass players Desenclos's Aria Et Rondo isan exciting alternative piece for the repertoire.

Elegy Op.24 for String Bass and Piano by leading French composer Gabriel Faure was originally composed in 1883 for Cello and Orchestra. Displaying his typical use of harmony this work begins with a sad and somberopening that builds to an intense rapid section symbolising the despairs of love. This edition has been accurately edited by Homer Mensch and includes a Piano reduction of the Orchestral backing.

4 Sange Med Tekst Af H.C. Andersen by Vagn Nørgaard - for 2 equal voices Double Bass and Piano. Based on texts by Hans Christian Anderson. Version for 3 equal voices Double Bass and Piano: WH30641