Bass Coalition - Bret Simner

Brett Simner presents a lecture recital and master class on the Viennese bass. In the early classical period approximately twenty- six concertos were written for the Viennese bass by the most important composers in all of Europe. The repertoire of this five-stringed fretted bass includes numerous chamber works, a concert aria by W.A. Mozart, and various orchestral solos by Josef Haydn. The majority of this music was written in the short period from 1764-1791. What exactly was this instrument? Where did it come from and why was it’s renaissance so brief? An Introduction to the Viennese Violone will walk through the history of the Viennese Violone looking at and explaining the instrument's tuning, construction, repertoire, virtuosi, and eventual "extinction". The one hour talk, followed by a master class will include concerto movements from Vanhal and Pichl as well as various examples performed on my Willer Violone from 1770 in Viennese setup. I look forward to catching up with you all!