Patrick Neher’s latest double stop study for contrabass, Double Stop Study no. 2 is now available on the Premiere Pedagogy page and the double bass solos page. This work is intended as an etude but is well suited to performance. (Hear Patrick Neher performing) It is approx. 06:00 minutes in length, and utilizes the entire range of the double bass. It is an expressive work with lots of challenge, on par with college and professional players.
This composition is an elegy, dedicated to continuing the memory of the charismatic, compassionate and talented bassists, Robert Black and David Neubert. These lovely humans were taken from the bass world all too soon. They will be dearly missed.
Patrick Neher’s new Two Springtime Arias for Two Contrabasses and Piano is now available on our contrabass in ensembles page. (be sure to scroll down the page to find it!)
This lyrical work, written in the spring of 2022, reflects on emotions of hope, sadness, joyfulness, frivolity, and curiousness. It is in two movements: “After Noon’s Lament” and “Reminiscence.” Performance time is just over 13 minutes. The composition is written for accomplished bassists of equal playing ability; amateurs and professionals. It is a good pedagogical piece as well but is designed for performance. The piano part requires a good command of the piano but is not terribly challenging – an accomplished student of accompanying will enjoy the expressive yet co-collaborative nature of the part.
Patrick Neher says; “Two Springtime Arias was written during the world-wide pandemic of Covid 19. When there was a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel, in the spring of 2022, I was inspired to compose an uplifting and challenging duet for basses, that expresses hope for a return to adventurousness; hope for a return to questing for knowledge (and shuttering of popular complacency). The duet is to be romantically interpreted with liberal tempo changes and rubato. While playing and working together, bassists will enjoy the comradship combined with feelings of accomplishment that they have created something meaningful… And they will have fun playing toegther!” ~PN, Dec. 2022
Audio Examples: Mvt.1 “After Noon’s Lament” and Mvt.2 “Reminiscence” both examples performed by Patrick Neher but are not intended to be the only “proper” interpretation. We’d like to hear Your Way!
ISG Publications announces the Second Edition of Patrick Neher’s Character Waltzes for Double Bass and Piano.This work, composed in 2014, is approximately 10-12 minutes and is four lyrical and short waltzes based on theatrical characters (there are “Izia”, “Marco”, “Frankie”, and “Josephine”).
The level of challenge is rated at 8 (out of 10) for the composition’s use of the entire range of the double bass and having challenge equal to a professional bassist’s ability. See a video performance, for more information, samples, and ordering information, please head over to our music for contrabass page. For more information on Patrick Neher and his compositions, please click here.
ISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions is dedicated to publishing, presenting, and promoting today’s composers of music for double bass, cello, strings, and other instruments in combinations and solos that provide challenge for the player and lyrical yet contemporary accessibility for audiences.
Camil Van Hulse’s short and spirited work; Sonatine-Etude pour contrebasse solo, has been given a face-lift. ISG Publications is please to offer the Second Edition of this popular bass solo. The work has been composed quite idiomatically for the double bass, even though Camil Van Hulse was not a bassist. The work is a perfect choice as an introduction to American contemporary classical music for bass students of all ages. Be sure to listen to the audio examples. The piece is a lot of fun to play!
Camil Van Hulse, was born in Belgium in 1897 and died in Tucson, Arizona, in 1988, after a lengthy career in music, particularly symphonic direction and opera composition. Though not a bass player, Camil wrote the composition, Sonatine-Etude, after hearing the incomparable Gary Karr performing works of Bottesini on the local classical music radio station. Sonatine-Etude is both lyrical and technically challenging, yet surprisingly, it is written quite idiomatically for the bass. Camil’s knowledge of orchestration is evident and the piece is a welcome addition to the repertory.
Purchase the sheet music on our contrabass page. PDF license is available for tablets.
Two Romantic Songs for Contrabass and Piano by Giovanni Bottesini
ISG Publications is pleased to announce the immediate availability and New Release of Two Romantic Songs for Contrabass and Piano by Giovanni Bottesini. This beautifully printed album of two art-songs from circa 1865, Il Lamento della Ghisa and La Cloche de Village, originally written by Bottesini for voice and piano, has been transcribed, arranged, and edited by Patrick Neher. This exclusive publication is the first time these songs have ever been published for contrabass solo.
If you are a Bottesini enthusiast, or just now beginning to study the music of this great master of 19th century romanticism, you are in for a real treat! Even your teacher doesn’t know about these beautiful tunes! In one album, you can study two fine examples of Bottesini’s craftsmanship. Each song is around four minutes long and encompasses a moderate mid- range for the contrabass, yet is very lyrical and mostly step-wise (without the flashy arpeggios of many of his works). These “entry-level” works are perfect to get started on the vast Bottesini repertory, and if you are an old-hand at Bottesini, you will welcome the fresh new lyricism and charm these pieces offer to be a wonderful diversion from the flash and “bravura” of much of Bottesini’s other works. Hear Patrick Neher perform “Il Lamento…” and Hear Patrick perform “La Cloche.”
This exclusive publication, which is perfect for students in middle to high school or college, contains one solo contrabass part and two piano parts (one in solo tuning and one in orchestral tuning). PDF License will soon be available for tablets. Please see our contrabass solos page for purchase.
Do you want to play the bass really, really well? Are you frustrated with attitudes that make playing the bass difficult? Well, we introduce a simpler, quicker way to learn the double bass: Patrick Neher’s new ColorPoz Method for Contrabassin two volumes is now available. These unique method utilizes colored note heads to designate position and string. Truly the first of its kind, ColorPoz will have you playing in all positions, knowing every pitch on the bass, in “no time!!”
The first book of ColorPoz Method for Contrabass includes studies for 1/2, first, second, and third positions, with an added variation of extended-third. The second book of ColorPoz Method for Contrabass covers positions 4, 4-extended, 5 and 6 (numbering of positions pioneered by François Rabbath). Student and teacher feedback indicates that the colored note head system facilitates their learning of the pitches in every position much better than by the traditional method of indicating position and string with text (i.e. “I, II, III, etc” and “G, D, A, E”). The goal is to learn all the notes and positions, then it is easier to focus on being expressive with the bow and sound control. Though ColorPoz Method for Contrabass focuses on left hand technique and progressively learning the pitches in every position, the method also provides thorough study for all aspects of bass playing, and facilitates development of acute mental-mapping of the fingerboard. ColorPoz Method also provides critical studies that develop pivoting (pivot fingering), with photos and video links.
Book Two example pages
ColorPoz Method for Contrabass is edited by Cielito De Jesus and the techniques taught have received accolades from numerous, prominent teachers of double bass. Now available, Book One is $22 and includes textual instruction, 39 photographs, 12 etudes, and 2 divertimenti. Book 2 is $28 and includes textual instruction, 12 etudes and 1 concert caprice. Both books purchased together are discounted to $45. A web site of videos for every exercise and numerous supplemental videos is provided with free and unlimited access.
Please share your comments about studying ColorPoz Method with Patrick Neher at his web site (patrickneher.com) or use our contact page.
ISG Publications is honored to present and to release a fabulous re-visioning of one of the most important staples of the violin repertory; Mark Rush’s new book, Carl Flesch Distilled, A User-Friendly Approach to the Flesch Scale System. This is the first violin pedagogy title in our Premiere Pedagogy Series.
Mark Rush has a distinguished career as a professor of violin and chamber music, an internationally traveled performer, and a recording artist with numerous albums. His new book is an innovative detail yet simplification of the Flesch Scale System, and focuses on the essence of this system to make scale study for violinists much more productive and less tedious. This is a superb practice book to reside on every violinist’s music stand. Available in PDF also, for tablets. Read Stephen Brivati’s review of Carl Flesch Distilled on Violinist.com. Read Mark Rush’s article on the creation of Carl Flesch Distilled on Violinist.com.
With accolades from professional and amateur violinists alike, here are what just a few celebrated performers are saying about Mark Rush’s new book: “I thoroughly enjoyed this well conceived and beautifully executed re-imagining of one of the essential building blocks of violin technique. I look forward to sharing this with my students and also working on it myself as well. Bravo!” ~ Steven Moeckel, Concert Master, Phoenix Symphony, Santa Fe Opera
“Carl Flesch Distilled is a welcome addition to the library of violin technical studies. Mark Rush has taken the Flesch Scale System and simplified the format into a logical visual and theoretical sequence easily understood by students.” ~ Mimi Zweig, Professor, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
“… a fresh and imaginative presentation of the Carl Flesch Scale System that makes the benefits of this classic fully accessible to any violinist.” ~ Kevin Lawrence, Professor, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Artistic Director, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival
“The Flesch scale system has been a go-to resource for violin teachers for almost 100 years. Professor Rush introduces scale practice in a more gradual way, and his ideas on fingerings help with the process of memorization and gaining confidence with intonation. I highly recommend this volume for any teacher… or for students who have been frustrated with the complexity of the original.” ~ Charles Wetherbee, Associate Professor of Violin, Colorado University – Boulder
“Mark Rush has taken the beloved Carl Flesch Scale System and has reverently preserved its most essential core, while providing wonderfully clear and helpful additions; perfect for students of all levels, making this classic book more approachable and useable for everyone. What a great idea, wonderfully executed!” ~ Lina Bahn, Associate Professor of Violin, Thornton School of Music, Univ. of Southern California
“What a pleasure to see this valuable contribution to the pedagogical literature which is exactly what it advertises: distilled, thoughtful, and above all, accessible, while retaining the original inspiration and intent of Carl Flesch. Well done, indeed!” ~ Paul Kantor, Professor of Violin, Shepard School of Music, Rice University
Neher – Merci François, Souviens-Toi! for six double bass players was released in 2018 but is now available in a Second Edition print. This lovely sextet was written for and performed by the faculty of the 2018 Rabbath Institute Los Angeles, organized by Cielito de Jesus (performance video link here – sorry it is from a cell phone so the audio is not high fidelity). It is an original composition of Patrick Neher based on an etude from Francois Rabbath’s Nouvelle Technique pour Contrebass (Leduc), in three lyrical sections, with the middle section being completely “free composed” with no references to the Rabbath etude, then returning to the referenced material to end the piece. This composition is a perfect piece to display the potentially sweet and lyrical qualities of double basses in ensemble. One of Patrick Neher’s formidable compositional skills is writing lyrical music for contrabasses in ensemble. Any level of performer(s) will enjoy this piece!
ISG Publications is please to announce the new release of Patrick Neher’s concert etude, Swing Set for Contrabass. As part of our Virtuoso Creation series and our Premiere Pedagogy series, these challenging set of four lyrical etudes can be performed as a short (about 07:00 minutes) concert solo, or can be part of your daily study to facilitate both your technique and musical interpretation skills. There are some “extended techniques” required of the piece, including some humming/singing in pitch.
Patrick Neher’s new piece, Swing Set for Contrabass, is a lyrical and dynamic solo work that can be a wonderful addition to any bass player’s library, but a professional level of performance is required.
Purchase Swing Set for Contrabass on our contrabass page or our pedagogy page.
Patrick Neher – Character Suite for Contrabass and Piano, (or for Contrabass Solo, or for Contrabass with another bassist accompanying), is the latest title added to ISG Publications’ Premiere Pedagogy Series of innovative compositions for students and teachers.
Written for Cielito de Jesus and her students, this composition explores four “characters” and how to develop musical personality. The four movements can be performed individually or as a group and total approximately 10:00 minutes. The movement titles indicate the characteristics to develop: Foup and Twils (allegro moderato), Under Dripping Palms (andante), Plumb Foup (allegro), and G’mma’s Waltz (allegro). The solo bassist can perform in orchestral or solo tuning, as both piano parts and accompaniment bassist parts come with both tunings. Hear demonstration recordings of Character Suite on Patrick Neher’s personal web page (click the Book Two tab).
Bassists are encourage to study the pieces with a teacher, and the teacher can play the accompaniment bass part or the piano. But these pieces can also be rewarding to perform solo, with no accompaniment. This innovative way of making music provides potential for spontaneous creativity. In fact, the soloist could specify where he/she wants to be accompanied and by whom – the bassist or the pianist. Fun!
The level of skill required to play these pieces is in the moderate to advanced junior high or high school range, but college students and professionals alike will be challenged to be creative with the material. Thus, the four character tunes are oriented toward multi-skill level, they are listenable, and are especially fun to play!
Purchase Patrick Neher’s new Character Suite at our contrabass solos page.
LUIGI NEGRI was a not-so-famous bassist of the 19th century. Born in 1837, he managed to make a name for himself even though overshadowed by Giovanni Bottesini. As a former student of Bottesini’s teacher, Luigi Rossi, and as successor to the head of the conservatory in Milan, he had a fair number of bass students and produced numerous compositions and etudes.
These two studies, Gran Studio no.1 and Studio no. 24, are from a compilation of studies that Negri produced around the year 1862. The book consisted of mostly violin studies (by such teachers as Kreisler), adapted by Negri for bass. But the two published here by ISG Publications are his original compositions and deserve to be re-published. They give us insight into the demands of bassists at the time – when Donizetti, Puccini, and Verdi were writing operas with very challenging (sometimes) bass parts!
Though not the most inspired of compositions, bassist will today be mightily challenged by these two studies, to play in the 19th century opera buffa style and Play in Tune!! You can obtain your copy of these two studies of Luigi Negri at our Pedagogy Page or our solo contrabass compositions page.
Mucumber’s Waltz for Three Contrabasses is an arrangement of the “…hot dogs are already cooked” aria and scene from Patrick Neher’s children’s opera; Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog (2008, based on the children’s book of the same name by Patrick Loehr). This new composition for three basses explores most of the bass range for all three parts, and is considered a pedagogical as well as a performance work. At just under 4:00 minutes, the work is playful, bright, and optimistic. And you can dance to it!
This work is ideally suited for a bass trio performance or for ensemble practice in bass studios at the grade-school and college level. See the page for bass in ensembles and the Premiere Pedagogy page to learn more and to purchase.
Available now with a discount for buying all three volumes, purchase 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets for Bassists on ISG Publications Premiere Pedagogy page, or the contrabass in ensembles page.
In collaboration with Editor, Cielito de Jesus, Patrick Neher has composed three volumes of progressive duets for bass students and teachers. The 21 duets span a plethora of techniques and musical styles, with Volume 1 being the most simple – with 9 titles, focusing on bow control and in the Rabbath 3rd, 4th, and 1st left hand positions. Volume 2’s six titles introduce more challenging left hand melodies in additional positions, with additional bow rhythm development. Volume 3 focuses each bass player on performance and developing their musical interpretations skills. For a total of 21 progressive, tuneful, and contemporary duets, this publication is unique in the world of bass pedagogy and is considered a “must have!” by numerous teachers:
See Jason Heath’s review of the Duets. AND Here’s what teachers are saying about the new 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets:
“As a big fan of Patrick Neher’s composition style, I’m excited to see these progressive duets! They add a rich and much needed companion to the George Vance Progressive Repertoire that all bassists can enjoy.” ~ Johnny Hamil, Young Bassist Teacher and Artistic Director, KCBassworkshop
“Patrick Neher’s 21 Progressive and “Divertimento” Duets for Bassists are a valuable new resource for double bass students. These charming pieces are set in the Rabbath/Vance positions and progress from open strings and simple motions into increasingly complex pieces. These pieces are filled with character and a diverse range of musical ideas, and they are sure to bring joy to any bassist who plays them. Highly recommended!” ~ Jason Heath, Contrabass Conversations
“These duets are great! What a fantastic addition to our repertoire. There’s something here for bassists of all levels – from simple, one-position tunes to complex concert music for virtuosos of the instrument. There’s a good mix of keys, meters and techniques that will provide students and teachers alike with a good challenge, and I can’t wait to start using them in my own teaching. Thanks, Patrick!” ~ Ted Botsford, LA Philharmonic, Occidental College, Colburn School
Available now with a discount for buying all three volumes, purchase 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets for Bassists on ISG Publications Premiere Pedagogy page, or the contrabass in ensembles page.
Patrick Neher has released his new Double Stop Study no. 1 for Contrabass. As an additional title to the Premiere Pedagogy Series of innovative study works, this new etude is also perfect for concert. It’s a 7 minute work that covers the entire range of the double bass, both technically and musically. Double Stop Study no. 1 is a perfect piece for bassists wanting to learn how to play double stops in a contemporary style, while honing their musical interpretation chops!
Purchase the sheet music on ISG Publication’s contrabass page or pedagogy page.
