The A night at the Opera series
The world of opera has long inspired composers and players to plunder the best arias and melodies to transcribe for other instruments. The double bass is no exception and Bottesini's operatic fantasias are still at the very heart of our solo repertoire into the 21st-century.
Recital Music publish a number of opera transcriptions - works for double bass and piano or double bass ensemble - and there are many more works in various stages of publication. It's difficult to keep a good tune down!
Charles Dancla (1818-1907) was a French violinist, teacher and composer and was the last representative of the French school of violin playing. He was a successful soloist and had the gift for writing bright and graceful music for the violin. He composed many works for his instrument, including two sets of operatic fantasies on themes from Italian opera for violin and piano (Op.89 and Op.118), and Air Varie No.6 on a theme of Mercadente is taken from the first set (Op.89).
Newly arranged for double bass by David Heyes, an elegant and stylish theme is followed by two inventive and spritely variations ending with a short and exciting finale. The piece uses a two octave range of the double bass, into low thumb position, and its equal range of musical and technical challenges will make this suitable for a Grade 8 player, or slightly more advanced, who is confident in the working orchestral range of the instrument and is looking for something a little different - an 'easy virtuoso' piece.
The piano accompaniment is simple and supportive and the piece is only available in orchestral tuning.
