Monthly Archives: October 2022

TH. A. Findeisen – Nixenreigen Fantasy 2nd Edition

ISG Publications is pleased to announce the production of the Second Edition of Theodor Albin Findeisen’s Nixenreigen Fantasy for Contrabass and Piano (op. 9 circa 1910). (Hear Patrick Neher performing Nixenreigen Fantasy). The new Second Edition provides two piano parts; one for the bassist who uses solo tuning to perform the piece, and one for the contrabassist in orchestral tuning. And, much of the bass part and piano parts have been newly edited by Patrick Neher.

The original publication of this piece has an attractive poem and illustration of a bassist dancing in the woods with nymphs surrounding him. Nixenreigen, which translates as “Nymph’s round dance,” tells a story of a bassist coming home through the woods one night after a performance, where he encounters nymphs! Nixenreigen Fantasy is a musical story telling of the wandering bassist’s reactions to the encounter.

The composition is perfect for high school and college aged students as well as for professional performers. It is lyrical, yet modern in harmonies. The work was revived and edited in 2012 by Dr. Robert Matheson (Dixie State University School of the Arts), and received additional editing by Patrick Neher.

Listen to a new recording of Patrick Neher performing Nixenreigen Fantasy

Purchase the Second Edition of Nixenreigen Fantasy, with two piano parts, at our contrabass page.

Second Edition – Van Hulse Sonatine-Etude

Sonatine-Etude

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, composer

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.

Adding Audio and Video Examples

October 2022: Our goal is to add new audio and/or video examples to all our titles in the sheet music catalog. Over the next year or so, we hope to provide good quality examples of performances of our publications. That way you can sample the music a bit, before adding the sheet music to your library. The most recent additions are Bottesini two pieces for double bass and piano; Il Lamento … and La Cloche… We have also added performances of Neher’s The Frog Prince Continued… and Mucumber McGee and the Half Eaten Hot Dog – both are fun and kind-of silly children’s opera, for two singers, double bass and violin or piano. Based on popular children’s books, these two operetta’s have been performed extensively.

New Bottesini – Never before Published

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.