My Research
Interwoven Traditions: Cross-Influence in 19th-Century Western European Double Bass Pedagogy
Description: This doctoral essay examines how major European schools of double bass playing, often treated as distinct traditions, were in fact deeply interconnected. Drawing on method books, treatises, and archival sources, the project traces how pedagogical ideas moved between regions such as Paris, Prague, Vienna, London, and Milan. Rather than developing in isolation, these schools selectively adopted, adapted, and sometimes rejected one another’s approaches. By highlighting these exchanges, the research reframes the history of double bass pedagogy as a network of shared influence offering a more nuanced understanding of how modern playing and teaching practices developed and continue to inform performance today.
Published by the University of Miami
The Double Bass: Becoming the Foundation of the Orchestra
Abstract: This paper explores the development of the double bass during the Baroque period when it evolved from a lesser-known string instrument into a foundational part of the orchestra. Though initially overshadowed by the violin family, the double bass gained prominence due to its unique low register and growing role in rhythmic support. The technical modifications made to the instrument, including changes to string tension and tuning, were essential for improving its sound quality and playability. Italy's influence, particularly through its embrace of the double bass in orchestral settings, was pivotal in spreading the instrument across Europe. The bassists' adaptability and willingness to modify their instruments to meet the orchestra's needs played a crucial role in securing the double bass's place. Its ability to provide harmonic depth and rhythmic stability solidified its role as a necessary instrument in the ensemble.
Published in the Online Journal of Bass Research
My Arrangements
Available through Double Bass HQ
Tap a cover to learn more.
