Double Bass Solo Techniques
“Good selection of exercises.”
Customer Review (Amazon
) Dec. 2017
Double Bass Solo Techniques Review
“Excellent book for Grade 5+ students. Teaches useful technique through real orchestral examples. Well worth getting, it will last you for a long time.”
Customer Review (Amazon) Nov. 2014
“The Double Bass Solo series introduces the student to pieces from the orchestral repertoire, introduced in order of difficulty. Thus they are successful tutor and technique books as well as invaluable collections of orchestral excerpts. Double Bass Solo Techniques combines the dual function of a technique book and a collection of orchestral excerpts. Each technique is preceded by an explanatory note, and the repertoire has been selected to showcase the technique in context. Ideal as preparation for auditions and exams.”
OUP, (2008)
“...is divided into sections according to the performance that is being employed in an excerpt:
Slurred bowing, the lower half of the bow, bowing effects, off the string,
harmonics, left-hand techniques and so on.
Hartley’s extensive playing experience has enabled him to provide fingerings in the more challenging excerpts which he knows will work when the player finally gets to play the piece with an orchestra. The sections on harmonics and use of Tenor and Treble clefs imply that Hartley intends Double Bass Solo Techniques as a comprehensive set of excerpts for advanced players (Grade 6 and upwards.)
Excellent material for learning the orchestral repertoire while at the same time supporting the development of a good technique on the instrument.”
Cathy Elliott, Music Teacher, February 2009
“This is an imaginatively produced book of orchestral excerpts for double bass. Keith Hartley has found an innovative way to study instrumental technique and orchestral excerpts at the same time. If you need useful, relevant material to study slurs, upper and lower parts of the bow, spiccato, sautillé, hook bows and so on with more advanced students, look no further.”
Cathy Elliott, ESTA News & Views 2008
“Whether you are a beginner wishing to learn new skills, a university player studying excerpts, or a professional preparing for orchestral auditions, this extremely useful volume will help you understand the marriage between technique and music making . . . Hartley has put together an excellent collection of music from the orchestral literature to demonstrate intermediate and advanced techniques used in music for the double bass. The excerpts are extremely efficient in conveying not only the proper procedure to execute the required skill but also the musical ideas behind them.”
Daniel Nix, The Strad, May 09
“Text instruction is clear and concise, and the musical examples are substantial enough to allow players to practice the technique that is presented. Diving into the technical elements in the context of actual repertoire is a valuable approach, and teachers and students are likely to benefit from the excerpts . . .This book is a practical resource for intermediate level students up through teachers, and provides ideal practice material for auditions and exams.
Graham Pellettieri, Strings Magazine (USA)
“Wonderful source for performance suggestions for orchestral excerpts chosen by a fine double bassist. Gives Slurred Bowing suggestions and excerpts for passages such as the Presto from the Overture from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and the Andante con moto from Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished" and etc; Using the Lower Half of the Bow with off-string-marcato strokes in excerts such as the Poco piu allegro from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Act II) and the Allegro con fuoco from Chabrier’s Espana and etc.; Using the Upper Half of the Bow with the Allegro con spirito from Brahms’s Symphony No.2 and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 and etc.; Natural and Artificial Harmonics; Tenor and Treble Clefs; Pizzicato Techniques; Left-Hand Techniques and much much more -- all in 31 pages!!!!. Marvellous. It is like having your own private tutor. No serious student should be without it.”
RMartin973, Alibris.com, Feb 11, 2010