Anthony Stoops: Etude-Caprice no. 3, Fantasia on Red River Valley for solo double bass

About the Composition

Etude-caprice no. 3 (Fantasia on Red River Valley) was written for my teacher, mentor, and friend, Dr. Diana Gannett, who has performed the piece all over the world. One of the many bass players who have heard Dr. Gannett perform the work and subsequently asked for the music is the fabulous Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, principal bass of the San Diego Symphony. Jeremy has been a champion of the work as of late, playing it on several recitals, and has just released an outstanding recording of it on YouTube.

The work is, as the title suggests, a fantasia and thus should be performed in a relatively free and improvisatory manner, as though the performer is searching to recall the theme behind the variations. The theme itself is withheld until the conclusion, where it should emerge nostalgically, evoking cherished memories of the past while gazing toward the future with optimism.

About the Composer

Anthony Stoops is a well-known double bassist whose career encompasses the realms of teacher, soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, improviser, composer and arranger. A prize-winner in numerous competitions such as the International Society of Bassists International Competition, American String Teachers Association and the Karr Foundation, he is in demand as a recitalist and clinician having presented concerts and masterclasses throughout the world.

Stoops has recorded several albums in a variety of styles from 1999’s BassFiddle with fiddler and educator Andy Carlson to his Albany Records solo recording Insights: New Music for Double Bass, which features new works written for him by American composers. Stoops often serves as a guest on other artists’ recordings from Aaron Lazar’s 2024 GRAMMY nominated Impossible Dream, to Onyx Lane’s 2025 release In the Waiting Room and many others.

As Professor of Double Bass and Chamber Music at the University of Oklahoma School of Music, Stoops is in demand for his Master Classes, clinics and workshops. He has presented at several music conferences such as the American String Teachers Association National Conference, Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference, Oklahoma Music Educator's Association, Texas Music Educator's Association and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic as well as Master Classes at several universities and conservatories.

In an orchestral career that has spanned 30 years performing in over a dozen symphony orchestras, Stoops has spent the last 20 years as a principal player in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. With them, he can be heard on their Naxos release of the music of Jonathan Leshnoff and their new upcoming commercial release of Veils of Justice: Trials, Tears, Transcendence, The Journey of Clara Luper by Hannibal Lokumbe.

Stoops started the bass during 4th grade in the renowned public school string program of the Westerville (Ohio) schools. His first bass teacher was Sid Townsend and his orchestra director was Robert Pforsich, former principal 2nd violin of the Columbus (OH) Symphony. Private study in high school was with Dr. Mark Morton, principal bass of the Columbus Symphony. He later went on to study with Jeff Bradetich at Northwestern University, Diana Gannett at the University of Iowa and the legendary Stuart Sankey at the University of Michigan.

He performs exclusively on a custom 5-string double bass (opus 12) with a high C string and low B extension made for him by American luthier Aaron Reiley. He lives in Norman with his wife, cellist Emily Gosma Stoops and their two children.