CONTRABASS REPERTOIRE GRADED LIST
METHODS/STUDIES/SCALE BOOKS UNACCOMPANIED BASS SOLOS SONATAS CONCERTOS AND SOLOS WITH ORCHESTRA SHOW PIECES & SHORTER COMPOSITIONS BASS AND PIANO COLLECTIONS ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS CHAMBER MUSIC FOR BASS AND OTHER GRADED LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
Compiled by: John Michel Professor of Cello & Bass at Central Washington University Sources include the ASTA String Syllabus (Revised 1986), the Royal Conservatory Syllabus, CWU Library.
GRADED LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE DOUBLE BASS BEGINNING LEVELS: I. open strings, harmonics, very simple fingerings--precursory exercises, bow hold, positions, changing strings, ear-training II. simple half or first position in predictable rhythms, mostly simple scalar motion--establishing intonation, solidifying positions, memorization III. half and/or first position including more arppegiated motion--developing tone, dynamics, bowings, bowing patterns, legato vs. staccato articulations,sight reading, faster bow strokes, different major keys and lower string playing IV. more difficult bowings and fingerings in first position--extended fingerings, detached slurs, slurs, rapid string crossings, non-harmonic tones INTERMEDIATE LEVELS: V. shifting between a few neck positions in isolated succession of shifts--, brush stroke, strong core sound, inch-worm extension or shift, VI. shifting between all neck postions and initial vibrato--dotted and more complex rhythms, thinking in large impulses, ornaments, trills, VII. fluent shifting between all neck postions, beginning transitional positions, and vibrato--long sustained bowing, minor scales, tenor clef, fifth-seventh position,shifting to high G,G#,A, awkward bow proportion, simple double stops and chords VIII. longer works with extensive shifting in neck and transitional positions and varied use of vibrato-- double stops and chords, concerto style playing, more complex forms, more contrasting passages,complex string crossings ADVANCED LEVELS: IX. longer, more challenging, and more musically mature works with extensive shifting in neck and transitional positions and sometimes brief thumb position passages--simple thumb position anchored at the harmonic or in simple scalar motion--different thumb position patterns, develop strength and endurance in thumb, maintain integrity of thumb position form, across all strings X. works utilize the entire range but fall into idiomatic scalar or arpeggiated patterns--thumb position in all higher positions, thirds, octaves, sixths XI. pieces require fluent playing over the entire range of the bass--thumb position over entire range, established spiccato, fast and even fingering, artificial harmonics, very fast virtuostic passages, multiple shifting, shifting at odd intervals,thumb position double stops
XII. works necessitate not only complete technical command but mature interpretation and sense of artistry XIII. particularly technically and musically challenging music designed for the seasoned, accomplished artist
CONTRABASS REPERTOIRE GRADED SYLLABUS The following pieces are listed in general order of technical difficulty, giving only moderate consideration for musical difficulty. At all stages of development, bass students should be exposed to and learn from the finest of music compositions. The result of hard practice is ultimately more rewarding, and the accumulated repertoire is more appropriate/satisfying for public performance. The piece written in bold print are those pieces indicate only my personal preference and interest. Students should be encouraged to explore the entire repertoire, but even more importantly, they should have a thorough working knowledge of the most respected works of the repertoire. Many pieces of our literature are transcriptions and arrangements borrowed from original works for other instruments, and we have welcomed them into the heart of our repertoire. It is impossible to identify all of those in this document, but an effort has been made to include interesting selections, mostly of accomplished composers. Preferred editions, in my opinion, are listed first with others following. ! = CWU library inventory in quantity of each publisher * = my studio inventory in quantity of each publisher(excluding optional publications in italics) b = bass part missing p = piano part missing
METHODS/SCALE BOOKS: I-IV. 3-11 Applebaum Bille, Isaia Nanny 1-8 Portnoi, Henry 1-7 Rabbath, Francois Shmuklovsky 1-8 Simandl Wohlfart, F. 1-8 Zimmerman 1-9 Zimmerman
Orchestral Bowing Etudes (description of all bow strokes!) Belwin New School for the Double Bass, Book 1 Ricordi Complete Method for the Double Bass, Bk. 1 Leduc Creative Bass Technique (ASTA) Herald Printing Nouvelle Technique de La Contrebasse vol 1 of 3 Leduc Scales,Triads, and Exercises for String Bass Beginners Fischer New Method for the Double Bass, Book 1 Fischer Studies for the Progressive String Bass Player Boston Elementary Double-Bass Method Schirmer A Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique for the Bass MCA
V,VI. Bille, Isaia Drew, Lucas ed. 5-9 Drew, Lucas 5 Green, Barry 5 Matesky, Ralph Montag, Lajos 5-8 Simandl
New School for the Double Bass, Book 2 Ricordi 77 Baroque Bass Lines U. of Miami The Artist's Studio for Strings: Shifting Develop. StudiesNeil A. Kjos * The Fundamentals of Double Bass Playing Piper The Well Tempered String Player for Bass Alfred Method, Vol 1 EMB 30 Studies International/Fischer *
VII,VIII.
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Bille Gouffe Hellouin 8-11 Kruetzer Lee Montag Nanny Mochel Rollez Sturm
New School for the Double Bass, Bks, 3 & 4 45 Studies by Various Composers, Vol 1 Bowing for the Contrabass 18 Studies 12 Etudes Method, Vol 2 Complete Method for the Double Bass, Bk. 2 Special Studies for the Double Bass Method for Contrabass, Vol 1-3 110 Etudes, Bks. I & II
IX, X. 9-11 Bille, Isaia Childs;Erb... Green Findeisen, T Hellouin Hoag Montag Nanny Nanny Nanny Ravel Ruhm Storch & Harbe 9-12 Simandl, F. Simandl, F.
18 Studies vol? Contemporary Etudes Advanced Tech. Technical Studies, Op 14 Vo. 1 Les harmoniques Nine Characteristic Studies Method, Vol III & IV 10 Etudes-Caprices 20 Etudes of virtuosity Etudes of Dreutzer and Fiorilla The Notation of Harmonics Progressive Etudes, Book 1-3 57 Etudes, Bks. I and II New Method for String Bass, part 2 30 Studies for the Development of Tone
Ricordi Billaudot Leduc International * International EMB Leduc Schott Billaudot International Ricordi * ASTA Piper International Leduc Schirmer EMB Leduc Leduc Leduc Univ. of Miami Dobinger International
!
!
! International
UNACCOMPANIED SOLOS: I-VI. (see collections) VII,VIII. Dragonetti Bach, J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach, J.S. Bach Ozawa Turetsky
Six Waltzes for Double Bass Alone Bouree from "3rd Cello Suite" Courante from "First Cello Suite" Menuet in G Major Prelude from "2nd Cello Suite" Monologue Collage I, for solo Bass
IX, X. Bach Bach Chihara Downey
Solo Suites in 3 Vols. Movements from Solo Suites Logs, for solo Bass Silhouette for solo
Leduc Leduc Carl Fischer Leduc Peters Elkan-Vogel Peters Leduc Peters Presser
! ! ! ! !
9+
Eccles Erb Fisher Henze Persichetti Proto Sydeman
Fantasia for solo Deja Vu for solo Concert Piece Serenade for solo Parable for solo bass Caprice for solo For Bass Alone
Aitken Cruft Fredrickson Perle Proto Rabbath Slatford Whittenberg
Suite for Solo Homage to JSBach for solo Music for the Bass Alone Monody II for solo Bass Caprice for solo Bass Rabbath Solos for the Bassist, solo Unaccompanied Solos, Vol 1 Conversations forsolo Bass
Univ. of Miami Merion Peters * Schott Elkan-Vogel Liben McGinnis
XI-. Oxford Lengnick Presser Presser Liben Liben Yorke Peters
SONATAS: I-IV. Drew, Lucas
First Sonatina
Belwin
V-VI. Anderson, Arthur Drew Presser, William
Sonatina Second Sonatina Sonatina
Fischer Belwin Tenuto
VII,VIII. Corelli Marcello 8 Romberg Scarlatti Vivaldi, A.
Sonata in D minor Six Sonatas Sonata in E minor, Op. 38, No. 1 Three Sonatas 6 Sonatas
IX, X. Bach Boccherini Bottesini Caporale 9+ Chopin Galliard Hindemith Zimmerman
Sonata No. 2 in D major Sonata No. 2 Reverie Three Sonatas Largo from the Sonata for Cello and Piano, op 65 Sonata in F major Sonata Seven Baroque Sonatas
International Schirmer International * Schirmer Schott International Belwin Fischer University of Miami Belwin-Mills * International Schott Zimmerman
!
XI-. 12 Boccherini Fuchs Handel Hindemith, Paul Misek Schubert Skorzeny
Sonata No. 6 in A major Sonata, Op. 97 Sonata in G minor Sonata for Double Bass and Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 Sonata in A minor "Arpeggionae" Sonatinas No 1 and 2
International * McGinnis International ! Liben International Doblinger
CONCERTOS AND SOLOS WITH ORCHESTRA: VII,VIII. 8+ Capuzzi 8+ Capuzzi
Concerto for Double Bass in F Concerto for Double Bass in D
IX, X. 10+ Bruch Cimador Damase Gouffe Handel 10 Haydn Hoffmeister Lalo 9+ Meyer, Robert Pichl Simandl Vivaldi
Kol Nidre Concerto in G Concerto Concertino Concerto in G minor Adagio from Cello Concerto in D Concerto No. 1 Intermezzo from Concerto for Cello and Orch. A little concerto Concerto in D Concerto Concerto in E minor
Boosey * Yorke *p Belwin Mills *p Yorke Billaudot Billaudot Belwin Belwin * Hofmeister Belwin Yorke * Hofmeister Belwin Leduc
XIBottesini Bottesini Dittersdorf Dittersdorf Dragonnetti Koussevitzky Mozart Vanhal Vivaldi
Concerto No. 1 Concerto No. 2 Concerto in E major Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 Concerto in A major Concerto, Op. 3 Concerto Concerto in E major Concerto in A minor, Op. 3 No. 6
International Internationa Schott Yorke International International Leduc Hofmeister International
!
SHOW PIECES & SHORTER COMPOSITIONS: I-IV. Brian, Arthur Carroll, Ida Dandrieu, Jean Etling, Forest Evans, Colin Fletcher, Stanley Gouinguene Handel, George Hassler, J.W. Hill, William Issac, Merle arr. Kingman, Patricia Kohler, Louis Lichner, H. Martin, Jean-Louis Muller, J. Frederick Muller, J. Frederick Muller, J. Frederick Pleyel, Ignaz Schlemuller, Hugo Schlemuller, Hugo Schlemuller, Hugo Siennicki, Edmund Whistler, Harvey
March of the Giants Five Simple Pieces for the Double Bass Gavotte in Rondo Form Solo Time for Strings, Book 1 Bass Bass (open strings) New Tunes for Strings, Vol 1 (designed by Paul Rolland) Chaconne Sarabande and Minuet A Stately Dance Autumn Days Country Gardens Two Jovial Dances Two Austrian Folk Tunes Dance of the Wooden Soldiers Pimprenelle Fun at the Fair Lake Chautauqua Waltz Neapolitan Dance Menuett Cradle Song Prayer Song Highland Heather Solos for Strings
Belwin Augener Belwin Highland Novello Boosey Leduc Belwin Belwin KJOS Fischer Belwin Belwin Belwin Billaudot KJOS KJOS KJOS Belwin Fischer Fischer Fischer KJOS Rubank
V. Chopin, Frederic 4-6 DeCoursey, Ralph Dvorak Etling, Forest ed. Fletcher, Stanley Gates, Everett Gossec, Francois Gouinguene, C. Handel Hoag, Charles Isaac, Merle Isaac, Merle Johnson, Harold Lesinsky, Adam Martin, C. Massenet,Jules Merle, John Merle, John
Maiden's Wish Six Easy Pieces for Bass and Piano Songs My Mother Taught Me Solo Time For Strings, Books II& III New Tunes for Strings, Vol 2 Night Song Gavotte Hommage a Vivald Largo Soft Shoe Dance Jolly Dutchman Nautical Melody Lento and Zapateado 34 String Bass Solos Pompola Melodie (Elegie) form Les Erynnies Demetrius Mummers
Fischer Berandol? *b Fischer Highland Boosey Bossey Fischer Leduc Fischer Schirmer Fischer Fischer Fillmore Belwin Fischer Fischer Fischer fischer
Montag, Lajos ed. Pergolesi Petrie Schlemuller, Hugo Schlemuller, Hugo Schlemuller, Hugo Tuthill, Burnet Walter, David ed.
Works for Bass by Hungarian Composers, Vol I & II Tre Giorni Asleep in the Deep Minuet Mountain Maiden Our Soldiers Six for Bass The Melodious Bass
EMB Fischer Rubank Fischer Fischer Fischer FEMA AMSCO
Bach Boccherini Cirri Corelli DeCoursey Dragonetti Dragonetti Elgar Etling Galliard Giordani Gouinguene Martini Medins Merle Montag Muller Muller Pierne Purcell Ratex Reinagle Saint Saens Wagner
Menuet in G Minuet Arioso Sarabande Four Miniatures Solo in D minor Three Waltzes Salut d'Amour Solo time for Strings, Bk. 4 Adagio and Allegro Two 18th c Pieces Adagio Plaisir d'amour Valse Caballero Works for Bass by Hungarian Composers vol 3 Dance of the Shepherds The Gallant Suitor Piece in G minor Aria Cantabile and Parade, from 6 Pieces Characteristiques Two Classical Solos: Tempo di Minuetto The Elephant, from the Carnival of the Animals To the Evening Star
Fischer Belwin Misicus Fischer Berando Doblinger Yorke Belwin Etling Belwin Augener Leduc Leduc Belwin Fischer EMB KJOS KJOS Belwin International Billaudot Belwin-Mills *p Durand Schirmer
Belle Province: Lebel-Quevillon Aria From Suite No. 3 Bach Chorales Gavotte Piece in C Choral Air Varie Variations on a Favorite Styrian Folksong Quattro Pezzi for bass and piano Sicilienne, Op.78
Leduc International Presser Fischer * Leduc Leduc Fischer Fischer Boosey * International *
VI.
6
VII,VIII. Ameller Bach Bach 7 Bach Busser Chapuis Dancla Eisengraber 7 Farkas, Ferenc 8 Faure
8
Laburda Maniet Raphling Saint Saens Simandl Simandl Simandl Smith-Masters Tartini Turetzky Vivaldi Walter
IX, X. 10 Bach 10+ Boccherini 9+ Beethoven Beethoven Casterede Dallier Dohnanyi Dragonetti Faure 9 Faure 9 Faure 9 Goens, Daniel van 9- Galliard 9- Glazunov 10 Gliere Gouffe Haydn 9+ Hovhaness Laska Leitermeyer 10- Lorenziti Massenet Mendelssohn 9- Monteverdi Mozart Nanny Nielsen Popper Prokofiev 9 Rachmaninoff 10- Saint Saens 10 Simandl
Duo, for Bass and Guitar Poco Allegro Lyric Prelude Romance, Op. 51 Concert Study in E minor Sarabande and Gavotte Tempo Di Polacca All Mimsy Andante Cantabile Old Dances for Young Basses Intermezzo The Elephant's Gavotte
Presser Brogneaux Musicus Belwin * International International Fischer York Bewin McGinnis Schirmer Yorke
Adagio fom the Organ Toccata in C major Rondo arr. by Stuart Sankey Romance, Op 50 trans. by Simandl Three Minuets Chemins Duo Theme With Variations from Cello Sonata Allegretto from the Solo in E minor Berceuse Apres Un Reve (After a Dream) Romance in A major, Op 69 Scherzo Op.12, No.2 Sonata in F major Chant Du Menestrel (Minstrel's Song, Op. 71) Scherzo, Op. 32 No. 2 Rondo-Fantaisie, Serenade Fantasy for bass and piano Perpetual Motion 12 Essays Gavotte Meditation Song Without Word Six Monteverdi Songs trans. Zimmermann Minuet Berceuse Fantasy Pieces Gavotte No. 2 Romance from Lt. Kije Suite Vocalise Op 34, No. 14 Allegro Appassionato, op. 43 Scherzo Capriccioso, Op. 72
International International International Peters Leduc Leduc Belwin Belwin Belwin International Belwin Belwin International Belwin International Billaudot Belwin Broude Belwin Doblinger Leduc copy Belwin Belwin MCA International Leduc Belwin Belwin Musicus International International International
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*b *p * * * * * * *
* * *
9 9
Stevens Taira Tartini Tchaikovsky Zimmermann
Arioso and Etude Penombres II Adagio Cantabile, Op. 65 Barcarolle Op 37, No. 6 Ayres and Dances
Merican Music Transat. Belwin * International *p Univ. of Miami
Bottesini Bush Dragonetti Dragonetti Giannini Gliere, Reinhol Gliere, R. Gliere Koussevitzky Lancen Nanny Pascal Ramsier Schumann Serventi Simandl Simandl Stein, E.D. Tenaglia Zbar
Tarantella in A Minor Meditation and Scherzo Andante and Rondo Grande Allegro in E mojor Psalm 130 Four Pieces for String Bass and Piano Russian Sailor's Dance Four Pieces Chanson Triste, Op. 2 Croquis (Sketches) Airs Russes Air Varie Divertimento Concertante Chant du Soir Largo et Scherzando Concert Etude Sarabande and Gavotte Concertpiece, Op. 9 Aria Night Music for Lovecraft
International? Yorke Doblinger Doblinger Colombo
XI-
11
!
Car Fischer Hofmeister International Yorke Leduc Durand Schirmer Leduc Leduc International International International * Leduc Leduc
BASS AND PIANO COLLECTIONS: 3-4 3-4 5-6 6 6 6-7 7,8 7,8 7-10
Applebaum, S. Applebaum, S. Applebaum, S. Applebaum, S. Applebaum, S. Bach Ratez Weinstein Zimmerman
Building Technic w/ Beautiful Music Vol II (bass part) Belwin Mills Building Technic w/Beautiful Music Vol II (piano part) Belwin Mills Building Technic w/Beautiful Music Vol III (bass part) Belwin Mills Building Technic w/Beautiful Music Vol IV(bass part) Belwin Mills Building Technic w/Beautiful Music Vol IV(piano part) Belwin Mills Bach for the Young Bass Player trans. by Zimmermann MCA Menuet varie,... from 6 Pieces Caracteristiques Billaudot Contemporary Modal Solos Univ. of Miami Solos for the Double Bass Player Schirmer
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! !
ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS: Zimmermann arr. Orchestral Excerpts from Symphonic Rep. Vol. 2 (includes excerpts form the following works:) 6 Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 6 Schubert Symphony No. 5 6 Smetana Vltava from "My Country" 7 Berlioz Overture "Roman Carnival" 7 Debussy Nocturnes "Fetes" 7 Dvorak Symphony No. 5 "From the New World" 7 Glinka Overture "Russlan and Ludmila" 7 Haydn Symphony No. 102 7 Nicolai Overture "The Merry Wives of Windsor" 8 Brahms Symphony No.1 8 Brahms Tragic Overture 8 Beethoven Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" 8 Lalo Overture "Le Roi D'Ys" 8 Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 "Reformation" 8 Mozart Symphony No. 39 8 Rossini Overture "The Barber of Seville" 8 Schumann Symphony No. 1 8 Sibelius Symphonic Poem "en Saga" 9 Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 9 Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade 9 Smetana Overture"The Bartered Bride" 9 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 10 Beethoven Symphony No. 9 10 Stravinsky Concerto "Dumbarton Oaks" 11 Shostakovich Symphony No. 5
International *
CHAMBER MUSIC FOR BASS and OTHER: Bach 10 Hodkinson, Sydney 11 Keyper @9 Reed Reynolds, Roger @9 Turetzky @9 Zinn
2 Part Invention for Two Basses copy One Man's Meat for Bass and Performer-Recorded Sound Track Presser Rondo Solo for Bass and Cello or Viola Yorke Trilogue-Scherzo for solo and two mallet percussion Kalmus Acquaintances for flute,bass and piano Peters Reflections on Ives and Whittier, for solo and self-prepared tape Elkan Perpetual Motion in Jazz for solo and opt. bass accomp Excelsior
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