The Bohemian Bass Book 1 brings together four impressive solo works for double bass and piano by leading members of the late 19th-century Czech School of Double Bass. Aimed at the intermediate-advanced bassist, each piece explores the entire register of the instrument in music in a lyrical and expressive style, emphasising the cantabile and sonorous qualities of the double bass.

Danse Caprice is in one extended movement and emphasizes the lyrical, and cantabile qualities of the double bass throughout its solo register. The style is late- romantic and accessible, probably written at the end of the 19th-century, with a strongly independent and supportive piano accompaniment. Černý’s music is always beautifully written for the double bass and the title echoes the dance-like style, in waltz time, with capricious energy and effervescence throughout.

Scherzo in A minor was newly revised by David Heyes in 2019, the bicentenary of the birth of František Gregora, with the solo double bass part transposed into G minor and accompaniments provided for both tunings. The music is rhythmic and vibrant, with a strong momentum throughout contrasting a more lyrical middle section marked Cantabile, ending with an energetic flourish which is exciting and technically challenging. Full of character and invention, this new edition is a great addition to Recital Music’s ongoing Czech series of publications.

Andante is originally for violin and piano, transcribed for double bass by David Heyes, and is a beautifully lyrical and characteristic single-movement work, composed in the late-romantic style typical of the late 19th and early 20th-century. It is dedicated to Dr. Ferdinand Pečírka (1859-1922), a leading doctor and dermatologist of his day, who was also a great lover of music and, in the mid-1890s co-founded the Czech Chamber Music Association. The opening bars of the piece have a strong resemblance to the introduction of ‘Desire’ for double bass and piano, followed by long and sinuous melodies contrasting an inventive, evocative, and supportive piano accompaniment.

Notturno Op.35 is a charming and lyrical salon work for the advanced bassist. It uses much of the solo register of the instrument and has been neglected and out of print for far too long. It’s blending of tender and lyrical melody contrasts passages of more dramatic intensity, producing a work that would be ideal for any audience and suitable for any bassist who has a confident knowledge of thumb position.

The Bohemian Bass Book 1 includes accompaniments for both solo and orchestral tuning.