G. Naumann: The Two Old Maids for 2 double basses & piano (ed. Heyes)

About the Composition

The Two Old Maids is a fun and light-hearted piece which explores the lower register of the double bass. Subtitled Humorous Variations and probably composed towards the later years of the 19th-century, it is best described as salon or characteristic music and the original edition suggests it can be played by double basses, bassoons or trombones.

It was first published by Verlag Louis Oertel in Hannover (Germany) and was probably composed and sold for the burgeoning amateur music-making market in the late 19th-century with its colourful and high-spirited piano accompaniment which offers few challenges to the competent pianist.

An opening fanfare-like introduction leads into a statement of the elegant theme, played in thirds by the soloists, followed by four entertaining and inventive variations, leading to a brief cadenza and an exciting four-bar coda which brings the piece to a rousing and successful conclusion.

The Two Old Maids would be an ideal piece to play with friends, as sight-reading practice or a fun and joyous concert piece which is suitable for any audience or occasion.

The edition includes two versions of the piece:

C major - the original key remains in the lower orchestral register of the double bass

G major - transposed a fifth higher and exploits the middle register of the double bass

Both editions are in orchestral tuning, and a piano accompaniment in solo tuning is available from the publisher (solodoublebass at gmail.com)