Frederick Zimmermann
Encyclopedia
Frederick Zimmermann was an American double bassist and teacher. He played in the New York Philharmonic
from 1930-1966 serving as assistant-principal and principal and taught at the Juilliard School
, Mannes College of Music
, Columbia University
, Manhattan School of Music
, and New York University
. He is considered by many to be the most influential American double bass teacher of the 20th century. In his "A New History of the Double Bass", Paul Brun describes Zimmermann as the "father of bass teaching in the United States".
Zimmermann was born on May 18th, 1906 in New York City. He studied the double bass with Herman Reinshagen, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic under Gustav Mahler
and Arturo Toscanini
. He made numerous transcriptions of music ranging from the 14th to 20th century and edited music for International. In 1966 his book, Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique for the Double Bass was published. In addition to music, Zimmermann studied painting with George Grosz
at the Art Students' League, had three showings, and often lectured on modern German painters. Zimmermann married his wife Dorothy in 1931. They had one son Edwin. Zimmermann died at the age of 61 on August 3rd, 1967 while visiting Ohlstadt, Germany of a brain tumor.
His students have occupied posts in virtually every major American orchestra. Some of his notable students include classical bassists Joseph Gustafeste, Orin O'Brien
, Donald Palma
, Robert Gladstone
, David Walter, Linda McKnight
, Alvin Brehm. Stuart Sankey
, Frank Proto
, and Lucas Drew and jazz bassists Henry Grimes
, Eddie Gomez
, and Red Mitchell
.
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
from 1930-1966 serving as assistant-principal and principal and taught at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, Mannes College of Music
Mannes College of Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is The New School university's music conservatory. While the university's main campus is located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mannes maintains its main academic building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan....
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He is considered by many to be the most influential American double bass teacher of the 20th century. In his "A New History of the Double Bass", Paul Brun describes Zimmermann as the "father of bass teaching in the United States".
Zimmermann was born on May 18th, 1906 in New York City. He studied the double bass with Herman Reinshagen, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic under Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
and Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
. He made numerous transcriptions of music ranging from the 14th to 20th century and edited music for International. In 1966 his book, Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique for the Double Bass was published. In addition to music, Zimmermann studied painting with George Grosz
George Grosz
Georg Ehrenfried Groß was a German artist known especially for his savagely caricatural drawings of Berlin life in the 1920s...
at the Art Students' League, had three showings, and often lectured on modern German painters. Zimmermann married his wife Dorothy in 1931. They had one son Edwin. Zimmermann died at the age of 61 on August 3rd, 1967 while visiting Ohlstadt, Germany of a brain tumor.
His students have occupied posts in virtually every major American orchestra. Some of his notable students include classical bassists Joseph Gustafeste, Orin O'Brien
Orin O'Brien
Orin O'Brien is an American double bassist. She has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since joining in 1966 under the direction of Leonard Bernstein and was the first woman to join the orchestra in its history...
, Donald Palma
Donald Palma
Donald Palma is a prominent classical double bassist, conductor, bass instructor, and educator of ensemble performance. He is a native of New York City, and is a graduate of the Juilliard School. Mr...
, Robert Gladstone
Robert Gladstone
Robert William Gladstone was a Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Oxford, Ontario and became a manager, manufacturer and teacher by career....
, David Walter, Linda McKnight
Linda McKnight
Linda McKnight is a double bassist particularly known for her teaching and solo performances. She currently is part of the music faculties at Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University, New York University, Columbia Teachers College, and Montclair State University.Ms...
, Alvin Brehm. Stuart Sankey
Stuart Sankey
Stuart Sankey was one of foremost pedagogues of the double bass. His students included Gary Karr, the first bass player of the modern era to make a career as a solo artist, and Edgar Meyer. He taught for nearly 50 years at the Aspen Music School. He also held teaching positions at the University...
, Frank Proto
Frank Proto
Frank Proto American composer and bassist. Proto was born on July 18, 1941, Brooklyn, New York. Double Bass student of Fred Zimmermann and David Walter. Graduate of the Manhattan School of Music 1966 Master of Music. Self-taught composer...
, and Lucas Drew and jazz bassists Henry Grimes
Henry Grimes
Henry Grimes is a jazz double bassist, violinist, and poet.After more than a decade of activity and performance, notably as a leading bassist in free jazz, Grimes completely disappeared from the music scene by 1970...
, Eddie Gomez
Eddie Gomez
Edgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
, and Red Mitchell
Red Mitchell
Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927, New York City - November 8, 1992, Salem, Oregon, was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. He was the brother of Whitey Mitchell....
.
External links
- The Frederick Zimmerman collection of double bass music (Zimmermann's personal library) in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.