List of contemporary classical double bass players
Encyclopedia
Contemporary classical double bass players are performers who play the double bass
, the largest and lowest-pitched bowed
string instrument
. They perform European art music ranging from Mozart-era Classical pieces to contemporary avant-garde works in a variety of settings, ranging from huge symphony orchestra
s to small chamber groups, or as soloists. Historical double bassists such as Domenico Dragonetti
(1763-1846) and Giovanni Bottesini
(1821-1889) established a tradition for playing the instrument that was carried on in the 20th and 21st century with a number of double bass players.
Some of the most influential contemporary classical double bass players are known as much for their contributions to pedagogy than for their performing skills, such as US bassist Oscar G. Zimmerman
(1910-1987), known for his teaching at the Eastman School and, for 44 summers at the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan
and French-Syrian bassist François Rabbath
(b. 1931), who developed a new bass method which divided the entire fingerboard into six positions. Bassists noted for their virtuoso solo skills include US player Gary Karr
(b. 1941) and Finnish bassist-composer Teppo Hauta-Aho
(born 1941).
This is a list of notable professional classical double bass players, including orchestral performers, soloists, chamber musicians, and teachers.
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, the largest and lowest-pitched bowed
Bow (music)
In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
string instrument
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
. They perform European art music ranging from Mozart-era Classical pieces to contemporary avant-garde works in a variety of settings, ranging from huge symphony orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s to small chamber groups, or as soloists. Historical double bassists such as Domenico Dragonetti
Domenico Dragonetti
Domenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Italy and worked at the Opera Buffa, at the Chapel of San Marco and at the Grand Opera in Vicenza...
(1763-1846) and Giovanni Bottesini
Giovanni Bottesini
Giovanni Bottesini was an Italian Romantic composer, conductor, and a double bass virtuoso.-Biography:Born in Crema, Lombardy, he was taught the rudiments of music by his father, an accomplished clarinetist and composer, at a young age and had played timpani in Crema with the Teatro Sociale before...
(1821-1889) established a tradition for playing the instrument that was carried on in the 20th and 21st century with a number of double bass players.
Some of the most influential contemporary classical double bass players are known as much for their contributions to pedagogy than for their performing skills, such as US bassist Oscar G. Zimmerman
Oscar G. Zimmerman
Oscar G. Zimmerman was an American musician, teacher and double-bass player.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1910, Oscar Zimmerman was the double bassist with the Rochester Philharmonic for 36 years and professor emeritus at Eastman, was a member of the first graduating class of...
(1910-1987), known for his teaching at the Eastman School and, for 44 summers at the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and French-Syrian bassist François Rabbath
François Rabbath
François Rabbath is a contemporary French double-bass player, soloist, and composer.He was born into a Syrian family of musicians but his only instruction came from a book written by a Parisian bassist Edouard Nanny...
(b. 1931), who developed a new bass method which divided the entire fingerboard into six positions. Bassists noted for their virtuoso solo skills include US player Gary Karr
Gary Karr
Gary Karr b. November 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, is an American classical double bass virtuoso and teacher.- Biography :Although he comes from seven generations of bassists, he was not encouraged by them to go into music...
(b. 1941) and Finnish bassist-composer Teppo Hauta-Aho
Teppo Hauta-Aho
Teppo Hauta-Aho is a Finnish double bassist and composer.One of the most prominent jazz and classical double bassist in the Finland area, he resides in Helsinki. One of his most famous pieces, Kadenza, has been played at many music festivals worldwide, and for many competitions...
(born 1941).
This is a list of notable professional classical double bass players, including orchestral performers, soloists, chamber musicians, and teachers.
North America
- Edwin BarkerEdwin BarkerEdwin Barker is an American double bass player who graduated from the New England Conservatory. He is currently Principal Double Bass with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Associate Professor of Music at Boston University College of Fine Arts.-Career:...
- Jeff BradetichJeff BradetichJeffrey David Bradetich is an American professor and performer of double bass. He currently teaches at the University of North Texas College of Music. Bradetich made his New York debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall on January 22, 1982...
- Max DimoffMax DimoffMaximilian Dimoff has been the principal bassist of the Cleveland Orchestra since 1997. He has appeared with the orchestra at their summer venue, the Blossom Festival, performing Koussevitsky's Concerto for Double Bass. He attended Northwestern University, where he studied with Jeff Bradetich. Mr....
- Timothy Cobb
- Mark DresserMark DresserMark Dresser is an American double bass player and composer.-Biography:He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation. For ten years he performed with the Anthony Braxton Quartet, as well as diverse groups led by Ray Anderson, Tim Berne,...
- Paul EllisonPaul EllisonPaul Ellison is co-principal bass at the Grand Teton Festivals, and is Professor of Double Bass at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He was also on the faculty of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California.Mr...
- Diana GannettDiana GannettDiana Gannett is a renowned American classical double bassist and educator, currently Professor of Double Bass at the University of Michigan School of Music....
- Barry GreenBarry GreenBarry Green is a U.S. orchestral and solo double bass player and teacher. He was the principal bassist for the Cincinnati Symphony. A contemporary of people such as Gary Karr, he has developed and publicized his own method for double bass....
- Mark Morton (Double Bassist)Mark Morton (double bassist)Mark Morton is the Assistant Professor of Double Bass at Texas Tech University, Principal Double Bassist of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and the Artistic Director of The American School of Double Bass....
- Gary KarrGary KarrGary Karr b. November 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, is an American classical double bass virtuoso and teacher.- Biography :Although he comes from seven generations of bassists, he was not encouraged by them to go into music...
- Albert LaszloAlbert LaszloAlbert Laszlo was formerly the principal bass of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and currently faculty of The Juilliard School College and Pre-College Divisions as well as the College-Conservatory of Music .-Biography:...
- Eugene LevinsonEugene LevinsonEugene Levinson is currently the principal double bassist of the New York Philharmonic and teaches at the Juilliard School. According to Book 1 of the New Method for Double Bass , Levinson, who was born in Kiev, began to study music at the age of nine. He graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory,...
- Homer MenschHomer MenschHomer Mensch was a prominent classical bassist who was a former member of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the New York Pops, and the NBC Symphony...
- Edgar MeyerEdgar MeyerEdgar Meyer is a prominent contemporary bassist and composer. His styles include classical, bluegrass, newgrass, and jazz. Meyer has worked as a session musician in Nashville, part of various chamber groups, a composer, and an arranger...
- Ranaan Meyer
- Orin O'BrienOrin O'BrienOrin 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 PalmaDonald PalmaDonald 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...
- Frank ProtoFrank ProtoFrank 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...
- Joel QuarringtonJoel QuarringtonJoel Quarrington , is a Canadian double bass player, soloist and teacher.He was born in Toronto, and began playing the double bass at the age of eleven in order to complete a bluegrass trio with his brothers, Paul Quarrington and Tony Quarrington...
- Hal RobinsonHal RobinsonHarold Hall Robinson is an American classical double bass player. He is currently the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.-Early life and education:...
- Brian RobinsonBrian RobinsonBrian Robinson is an English former road bicycle racer of the 1950s and early 1960s.He was the first Briton to finish the Tour de France and the first to win a Tour stage....
- Karl E. H. SeigfriedKarl E. H. SeigfriedKarl E. H. Seigfried is a German-American jazz, rock, and classical bassist, guitarist, composer, bandleader, writer and educator based in Chicago....
- Dennis TremblyDennis tremblyDennis Trembly is Professor of string bass at the University of Southern California. He is also one of two principal bassists for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.-Musical history:...
- Bertram TuretzkyBertram TuretzkyBertram Turetzky is a contemporary American double bass soloist, teacher, and author of The Contemporary Contrabass , a book that looked at a number of new and interesting ways of playing the double bass including featuring it as a solo performance vehicle with no other instrumental...
- Oscar G. ZimmermanOscar G. ZimmermanOscar G. Zimmerman was an American musician, teacher and double-bass player.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1910, Oscar Zimmerman was the double bassist with the Rochester Philharmonic for 36 years and professor emeritus at Eastman, was a member of the first graduating class of...
- Linda McKnightLinda McKnightLinda 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...
Europe
- Boguslaw Furtok
- Jurek DybalJurek DybalJurek Dybal - Jerzy Dybał - is a Polish double-bass soloist and conductor.- Biography :A dynamic presence on the podium, Jurek Dybał has been captivating audiences as conductor, soloist, recitalist and chamber musician as well as being Associate Principal double-bass in the Vienna Philharmonic...
- Gerald DruckerGerald DruckerGerald Drucker was a British classical double bass player, photographer and double bass teacher. Principal Double Bass at the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, and finally the Philharmonia Orchestra of London...
- Heinz Karl GruberHeinz Karl GruberHeinz Karl Gruber is an Austrian composer, bass player and singer, born in Vienna on 3 January 1943 and a leading figure of the so-called Third Viennese School.-Career:...
- Jiri HudecJirí HudecJiří Hudec is a retired male hurdler from the Czech Republic. He won three medals at the European Indoor Championships, representing Czechoslovakia before it split up.-Achievements:-References:*...
- Teppo Hauta-AhoTeppo Hauta-AhoTeppo Hauta-Aho is a Finnish double bassist and composer.One of the most prominent jazz and classical double bassist in the Finland area, he resides in Helsinki. One of his most famous pieces, Kadenza, has been played at many music festivals worldwide, and for many competitions...
- Rinat IbragimovRinat IbragimovRinat Ibragimov is a defenceman currently playing for Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in the Kontinental Hockey League.-International statistics:-References:* player profile and career stats at...
- Jorma KatramaJorma KatramaJorma Katrama is a Finland instrumentalist, specializing in violin and double bass.He studied violin and, later, double bass at the Sibelius Academy and was the first in Finland to be granted a diploma in double bass. From 1964 to 1967 he studied with Gaston Logerot in Paris...
- Tom Martin
- Duncan McTierDuncan McTier-Biography:Born in Worcestershire, England, Duncan McTier studied a degree in mathematics at Bristol University before joining the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. McTier won the Isle of Man International Double Bass Competition in 1982 and since then he has performed...
- Francesco Petracchi
- François RabbathFrançois RabbathFrançois Rabbath is a contemporary French double-bass player, soloist, and composer.He was born into a Syrian family of musicians but his only instruction came from a book written by a Parisian bassist Edouard Nanny...
- Jean-Pierre RobertJean-Pierre RobertJean-Pierre Robert is a French double bass player and author.In 1979, first prize of double bass of superior national Conservatoire of Paris, he becomes a musician of Ensemble l'Itinéraire steered by Michaël Levinas...
- Rodney SlatfordRodney SlatfordRodney Slatford is an English contemporary double bass player and teacher . He was the principal bass player of the Midland Sinfonia, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and English Chamber Orchestra, a founder of the Nash Ensemble, and has been a principal player in other early music ensembles...
- Allan von SchenkelAllan von SchenkelAllan von Schenkel is an American double bassist, performance artist, music promoter, and composer. He is a self-described "creative bass soloist", and, since the beginning of his music career in the early 1990s, has performed an average of 80 recitals each year...
- Ludwig StreicherLudwig StreicherLudwig Streicher was a contrabassist from Vienna, Austria. Familiar to many as the former principal bass of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and leading bass soloist, he is also known as a self-taught instructor and as the author of a popular contrabass textbook.-Career:Entering the Vienna Music...
- Rainer ZepperitzRainer ZepperitzRainer Zepperitz was a German double bassist.- Background :In his childhood he first learned the violin before moving to the relocation of his family to Germany at the Dusseldorf Conservatory at Arthur Däwel and he learned the double bass...
See also
- List of jazz bassists, which includes both double bass and electric bass players.