Developing a Crossover Idiomatic Writing for the Double Bass: Composing/Arranging & Playing, and ... Da capo !

Abstract

Based on works of crossover nature (classical + popular) composed or arranged for the “2019 International Society of Bassists Convention”, I discuss the development of idiomatic writing of the acoustic double bass. Departing from the interaction between three creative musical processes - composing, arranging and playing, in various musical genres (classical song, Broadway musical song, blues, rock, ballad and samba), I discus (1) the refinement of the notation in the score; (2) the heterogeneity of the seven double bass registers; (3) exploring the double bass as a harmonic instrument; (4) exploring the double bass as percussion instrument; (5) the exploration of the text-music binomial (6) the reduction of larger instrumentations (symphony orchestra, chamber groups, blues and rock bands) to smaller groups (duo, trio and quartet with double bass, voice, piano and percussion) and (7) the development of extended techniques on the double bass not documented in the literature.

Keywords

• music performance construction
• idiomatic writing for the double bass
• double bass composition and arrangement
• double bass performance
• crossover music and music genres