Double bass concerto
Encyclopedia
A double bass concerto is a piece of music for solo double bass
with an orchestra. The first concerti for solo bass were written in the late classical period by Domenico Dragonetti
and Johannes Matthias Sperger
. Several concerti were also written by Johann Baptist Vanhal
, Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
and Joseph Haydn
, although Haydn's has since been lost. Giovanni Bottesini
made enormous contributions to the solo double bass repertoire, and among his many works are two virtuostic concerti for double bass and orchestra. In the 20th century, many composers created new works for the instrument, including Serge Koussevitsky, Eduard Tubin
, Hans Werner Henze
, and John Harbison
.
The double bass has not been a popular choice for a solo instrument, mainly due to the difficulties of balancing the soloist and orchestra so that the former is not overshadowed. The low register of the double bass makes it difficult to project; to help resolve this problem, many composers (most notably Bottesini) wrote solo parts in the high register of the instrument. Few major composers of the classical and romantic eras were disposed to writing double bass concerti, as there were few instrumentalists capable of taking on the demands of playing as a soloist; it was only through the efforts of virtuosi like Dragonetti, Bottesini, and Koussevitsky that the double bass began to be recognized as a solo instrument. As the twentieth century began, the standard of double bass technique improved by a significant degree, making it a more popular choice for composers.
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
with an orchestra. The first concerti for solo bass were written in the late classical period by Domenico Dragonetti
Domenico Dragonetti
Domenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Italy and worked at the Opera Buffa, at the Chapel of San Marco and at the Grand Opera in Vicenza...
and Johannes Matthias Sperger
Johannes Matthias Sperger
Johannes Matthias Sperger, also often Johann, was an Austrian contrabassist and composer....
. Several concerti were also written by Johann Baptist Vanhal
Johann Baptist Vanhal
Johann Baptist Vanhal also spelled Wanhal, Waṅhall or Wanhall was an important classical music composer born in Nechanice, Bohemia to a Czech family.- Biography :...
, Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf
----August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf was an Austrian composer, violinist and silvologist.-1739-1764:...
and Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, although Haydn's has since been lost. Giovanni Bottesini
Giovanni Bottesini
Giovanni Bottesini was an Italian Romantic composer, conductor, and a double bass virtuoso.-Biography:Born in Crema, Lombardy, he was taught the rudiments of music by his father, an accomplished clarinetist and composer, at a young age and had played timpani in Crema with the Teatro Sociale before...
made enormous contributions to the solo double bass repertoire, and among his many works are two virtuostic concerti for double bass and orchestra. In the 20th century, many composers created new works for the instrument, including Serge Koussevitsky, Eduard Tubin
Eduard Tubin
-Life:Tubin was born in Torila, Governorate of Livonia, Estonia. Both his parents were music lovers, and his father played trumpet and trombone in the village band. His first taste of music came at school where he learned flute and balalaika. Later, his father swapped a cow for a piano, and the...
, Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
, and John Harbison
John Harbison
John Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
.
The double bass has not been a popular choice for a solo instrument, mainly due to the difficulties of balancing the soloist and orchestra so that the former is not overshadowed. The low register of the double bass makes it difficult to project; to help resolve this problem, many composers (most notably Bottesini) wrote solo parts in the high register of the instrument. Few major composers of the classical and romantic eras were disposed to writing double bass concerti, as there were few instrumentalists capable of taking on the demands of playing as a soloist; it was only through the efforts of virtuosi like Dragonetti, Bottesini, and Koussevitsky that the double bass began to be recognized as a solo instrument. As the twentieth century began, the standard of double bass technique improved by a significant degree, making it a more popular choice for composers.
Selected list of works for double bass and accompaniment
- Kalevi AhoKalevi AhoKalevi Aho is a Finnish composer.- Career :Born in Forssa, he studied composition at the Sibelius Academy under Einojuhani Rautavaara, receiving a diploma in 1971. He continued his studies for a year in Berlin with Boris Blacher...
- Double Bass Concerto (2005)
- Giovanni BottesiniGiovanni BottesiniGiovanni Bottesini was an Italian Romantic composer, conductor, and a double bass virtuoso.-Biography:Born in Crema, Lombardy, he was taught the rudiments of music by his father, an accomplished clarinetist and composer, at a young age and had played timpani in Crema with the Teatro Sociale before...
- Concerto No. 1 in F minor
- Concerto No. 2 in B minor
- Concerto No. 3 in A major (concerto di bravura)
- Antonio Capuzzi
- Concerto in D (F) major
- Carl Ditters von DittersdorfCarl Ditters von Dittersdorf----August Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf was an Austrian composer, violinist and silvologist.-1739-1764:...
- Concerto in E major
- Concerto No. 2 in E Major
- Domenico DragonettiDomenico DragonettiDomenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Italy and worked at the Opera Buffa, at the Chapel of San Marco and at the Grand Opera in Vicenza...
- Concerto in G major, D290
- Concerto in D dur
- Concerto in A major no 3
- Concerto in A major no 5
- Concerto in A major (NannyEdouard NannyEdouard Nanny was an important French double bass player, teacher, and composer. He was a longtime professor of double bass at the Paris Conservatory.-Career:...
)
- Hans Werner HenzeHans Werner HenzeHans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
- Double Bass Concerto (1966)
- Franz Anton HoffmeisterFranz Anton HoffmeisterFranz Anton Hoffmeister was a German composer and music publisher.Born in Rottenburg am Neckar, he went to Vienna at the age of fourteen to study law...
- Concerto No. 1 in D major
- Concerto No. 2 in D major
- Concerto No. 3 in D major
- Jiří HudecJiří Hudec (composer)Jiří Hudec was a Czech composer, conductor, arranger and organist.-Life:Hudec studied organ at the State Conservatory in Brno, under F. Michálek. In addition, he studied composing with Vilém Petrželka and conducting with Antonín Balatka. From 1944 to 1946, he also studied the piano privately under...
- Burleska for double bass and orchestra (1981)
- Gordon JacobGordon JacobGordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:...
- Concerto for Double Bass (1972)
- Serge Koussevitsky
- Concerto in F minor, Op. 3 (1902)
- Virgilio MortariVirgilio MortariVirgilio Mortari was an Italian composer and teacher.-Biography:Mortari was born in Passirana di Lainate, near Milan in 1902. He studied at the Milan Conservatory with Costante Adolfo Bossi and Ildebrando Pizzetti. He graduated from the Parma Conservatory in 1928, having studied piano and...
- Concerto per Franco Petracchi
- Edouard NannyEdouard NannyEdouard Nanny was an important French double bass player, teacher, and composer. He was a longtime professor of double bass at the Paris Conservatory.-Career:...
- Concerto in E minor
- Einojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
- Angel of Dusk, concerto for double bass and orchestra (1980)
- Anthony RitchieAnthony RitchieAnthony Ritchie is one of New Zealand's most prolific composers. His works number over a hundred, and include three symphonies, two operas, seven concertos, choral works, chamber music and solo works....
- Whalesong (2006)
- Nino RotaNino RotaNino Rota was an Italian composer and academic who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti...
- Divertimento Concertante for double bass and orchestra (1968–1973)
- Johannes Matthias SpergerJohannes Matthias SpergerJohannes Matthias Sperger, also often Johann, was an Austrian contrabassist and composer....
- Concerto in D major, No. 15
- Eduard TubinEduard Tubin-Life:Tubin was born in Torila, Governorate of Livonia, Estonia. Both his parents were music lovers, and his father played trumpet and trombone in the village band. His first taste of music came at school where he learned flute and balalaika. Later, his father swapped a cow for a piano, and the...
- Double Bass Concerto (1948)
- Johann Baptist VanhalJohann Baptist VanhalJohann Baptist Vanhal also spelled Wanhal, Waṅhall or Wanhall was an important classical music composer born in Nechanice, Bohemia to a Czech family.- Biography :...
- Concerto in E major
- Aldemaro RomeroAldemaro RomeroAldemaro Romero was a Venezuelan pianist, composer, arranger and orchestral conductor. He was born in Valencia, Carabobo State.-Biography:...
- Concierto risueño
- Serge Lancen
- Concerto pur contrebasse et cordes
- Fernand Fontaine
- Concerto As dur