Simandl Concerto, Op. 75, for Double Bass & Piano

Franz Simandl (1840-1912) was the leading double bassist of the Vienna Court Orchestra and from 1869 Professor of Double Bass at the Vienna Conservatory. He wrote a comprehensive method as well as composed and transcribed much literature for the bass. Simandl studied from 1855-61 with Joseph Hrabe (1816-1870) at the Prague Conservatory.

For American bassists there is a direct link with the Prague Conservatory and Simandl. Wenzel Hause (1764-1847) was the first Professor of Double Bass at Prague. His pupil, Joseph Hrabe, taught Simandl. Ludwig Manoly (1855-1932), a pupil of Simandl, was the first instructor of double bass at the National Conservatory of Music in New York, now the Juilliard School.

The Simandl Concerto is a good “summary” of 19th century double bass technique.