The Beginner Bass Series series
Recital Music publish music for every level of double bassist and in the past few years have concentrated on music for the younger player. This new and exciting series includes works with simple, accessible technical and musical challenges for beginners and progressing bassists. Piano accompaniments are supportive and written with the bass teacher in mind, creating a new repertoire which is ideal for concert and educational use.
Four for 4, now renamed Bass Clef Quartets for Beginners (arranged by David Heyes), is available to buy as a PDF download. https://dbbpublications.gumroad.com/l/beginnerquartets
This book of four short fun bass quartets is aimed at the good beginner or intermediate ensemble. Each part has been carefully written for a certain ability level and the pieces can be played successfully with four players or larger forces.
Bass 4 remains in first position throughout; bass 3 uses 1st and 2nd positions only; bass 2 plays no higher than third position or octave harmonics; and bass 1 plays the highest, venturing into 4th and 5th positions alongside the octave G and D harmonics.
All four pieces can be played as a quartet or with larger forces and the publisher is happy for the teacher to make extra copies of the individual parts for their own use but not to copy the printed score.
1. All the fun of the Fair (David Heyes) was written for Mark Osborn and the 2013 Oklahoma Bass Bash. Players should imagine the movement and elegance of a fairground carousel as the waltz melody is passed from player to player. The music is lighthearted and fun and ends with a triumphant 'bang' as a competitor scores a bullseye on the nearby shooting range.
2. A Walk in the Park (Gustav Laska) is based on a short piece for double bass and piano. The accompaniment should be rhythmic and crisp with a strong melody line which again is passed from player to player. The piece is short and lively and each repeat can be played more than once and using a range of dynamics to maintain the interest and enjoyment.
3. Old French Song (Peter Tchaikovsky) is taken from Children's Album Op.39, a book of piano pieces for young people. A number of simple harmonics have been used to add 'height' to the piece, leaving plenty of space for the beautiful and sonorous melody to be played by basses 2,3 and 4. Bass 1 plays an accompanying role throughout. [RM050 is a sextet version of this piece]
4. Gentil Bataillon (Vittorio Monti) is originally for 2 mandolins and piano and only the opening section has been arranged. The music is lively and energetic with a strong forward momentum from beginning to end. The extreme dynamic range will allow bassists to explore the different possibilities of the ensemble and the piece ends with four gentle and understated pizzicato notes. [RM368 is an octet version of this piece]
