An investigation to discover suitable string bass recital literature

Abstract

This creative project was an attempt to discover suitable string bass recital literature, drawn either from literature originally for string bass, or from literature for other intstruments. A recital of four of these works was given May 15, 1972. The works were: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air from the Suite in D Major, Edouard Nanny’s Concerto in F# Minor, William Sydeman’s Piece for Bass Alone, and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s Sonata in D Major. A paper is included, describing each piece and analyzing these works by methods appropriate to each. Performance difficulties arising from each piece are also discussed. Conclusions are drawn about the value of the pieces performed, and about an effective mode of preparation for future performances.