Beginner Double Bass Quartet Bundle

About the Collection

The Beginner Quartet Bundle is a collection of 9 double bass quartets for beginner and progressing double bassists, composed by 5 composers.

The first seven quartets could be described as: primarily in 1st position, with a few easy harmonics in 4th position alongside interesting playing effects. A limited number of notes, rhythms, and note values have been employed, which are suitable for beginner bassists of mixed ability levels.

The Bundle Includes:

1. David Heyes: The Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows is a suite of six fun and exciting pieces for the beginner double bass quartet. Primarily in 1st position, with a few easy harmonics in 4th position alongside interesting playing effects, a limited number of notes, rhythms and note values have been employed which are suitable for beginner bassists of mixed ability levels.

2. David Heyes: Bessy's Beginner Bass Quartets

Bessy’s Beginner Bass Quartets are for junior double bass quartet, or larger forces, and are primarily in 1st position, with a few easy harmonics in 4th position. A number of playing techniques such as col legno, sul ponticello, Bartók pizz, and bass percussion create interest and contrasts. This piece includes two fun and energetic movements.

3. Ian Davies: A Box of Delights

A Box of Delights is a collection of five short, colorful and enjoyable pieces for the beginner double bass quartet or larger forces. Using 1st position, alongside a few easy harmonics in 4th position and a range of playing effects, they offer simple musical and technical challenges and are playable in any number or order. A limited number of notes and note values are used to create useful sight-reading and concert repertoire, introducing chamber music in the earliest years of study.

4. Christopher Field: Aesop's Fables

Aesop’s Fables is a fun and accessible collection of five pieces with narrator, playable by quartet or larger forces. Primarily in 1st position, with a few simple harmonics in 4th position to add height and clarity, the addition of bass percussion and different playing effects offers musical and technical challenges in equal measure.

5. Michael Montgomery: Big Bad Wolf

Big Bad Wolf is a fun collection of five colorful and inventive pieces for the beginner bass quartet, also playable with larger forces. Remaining in 1st position, with a few easy harmonics in 4th position to add height and clarity alongside effective bass percussion, these short quartets are an ideal introduction to chamber music for the youngest bassists.

6. Michael Montgomery: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow features five short, colorful and inventive pieces for the beginner bass quartet. Using only 1st position, alongside easy harmonics in 4th position to add height and clarity, alongside effective bass percussion, these pieces are an ideal opportunity to introduce chamber music from the earliest stages of study.

7. Michael Montgomery: Moby Dick

Moby Dick features five short and dynamic quartets for the beginner bass quartet. In 1st position throughout, apart from a few easy harmonics in 4th position to add height and clarity, these would be ideal for quartet or larger forces and the movements can be performed in any order.

8. Teppo Hauta-aho: Mini-Bass Quartet No. 1

Mini-Bass Quartet No. 1 was composed in the 1980s, when the introduction of smaller sized double basses required new solo and ensemble repertoire which was aimed specifically at younger bassists. Teppo Hauta-aho rose to the challenge and composed three quartets for mini basses, progressing in difficulty from the first to the third.

Mini-Bass Quartet No. 1 uses first and second position only, employing simple rhythms and dynamics, but also introducing young bassists to different playing techniques at an early stage of their studies.

9. David Heyes: Child's Play

Child’s Play is a fun piece for bassists of all ages and abilities and is playable by any number of players. All the notes are produced using a chopstick (or pencil) and the piece is designed to explore the many different sounds and playing effects available on the double bass, alongside the skills of learning to work as an ensemble and to follow a conductor’s beat.

Everyone plays in time but starting at staggered intervals and, after the initial five bar music at letter A, may play any other section and in any order. Everyone eventually plays the Ending Music and the piece ends quietly before a sudden shouted phrase by the entire bass orchestra.