Adolf Lotter: The Ragtime Bass Player for double bass and string quartet (arranged by David Heyes)

The Ragtime Bass Player is Adolf Lotter's most popular work for double bass and was composed in 1913, and celebrated its centenary in 2013.

About the Composition

The music has an elephantine charm that everyone would enjoy and the four-bar introduction grabs the attention instantly. The opening double bass theme has a jaunty and playful counter-melody played by violins and piccolo which adds a great sense of fun from the outset. The double bass remains in bass clef throughout making excellent use of the lower orchestral register of the double bass. The music is lively, charming, and fun and would still be a great addition to any popular concert which wanted something to feature the bassists.

About the Composer

Adolf Lotter was born in Prague on 4 December 1871 and studied double bass with František Černý, and composition with Antonín Dvořák, at the Prague Conservatoire. He lived in London from 1894, until his death in 1942, and quickly established himself as one of the leading bassists of his generation, performing with many of the famous conductors of the day including Sir Henry Wood, Richard Strauss, Weingartner, and Sir Thomas Beecham. Lotter was a member of the Queen's Hall Orchestra for over thirty years (1898-1930), becoming Principal Bass in 1911, and also played with the London Symphony Orchestra, London String Players, Guildford Symphony Orchestra, and Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra (1935-36).