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Franz Simandl

 
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Franz Simandl
 
 
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Franz Simandl (August 1 1840 - December 15 1912) was a double-bassist and pedagogue who is remembered most for his New Method for the Double Bass, 30 Studies, and more advanced collection of studies, Gradus ad Parnassum. All three of these works are still in use today and are available in a number of competing critical editions.

His approach uses the first, second, and fourth fingers of the left hand (actually, the third and fourth operating together as one digit) for stopping the strings on the lower register of the instrument and divides the fingerboard into various positions.

The second volume of the method looks at the use of thumb positions using the thumb, first, second and third fingers, to play solo, high register work and again dividing the fingerboard up into a concept of positions.






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Simandl
Franz Simandl (August 1 1840 - December 15 1912) was a double-bassist and pedagogue who is remembered most for his New Method for the Double Bass, 30 Studies, and more advanced collection of studies, Gradus ad Parnassum. All three of these works are still in use today and are available in a number of competing critical editions.

His approach uses the first, second, and fourth fingers of the left hand (actually, the third and fourth operating together as one digit) for stopping the strings on the lower register of the instrument and divides the fingerboard into various positions.

The second volume of the method looks at the use of thumb positions using the thumb, first, second and third fingers, to play solo, high register work and again dividing the fingerboard up into a concept of positions. The second volume also delves extensively in to the playing of harmonics.

Simandl's "New Method" of playing (over a century old now) is still the keystone of classical double-bass technique, but modern adaptations of, extensions to, and challenges to New Method doctrines are acknowledged.

Simandl studied at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory

Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech language Pra?sk? konzervator, is a Czech Republic secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting....
 with Josef Hrabe before becoming the principal bassist in the Vienna
Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
 Court Orchestra. His pupils include many of the leading bassists of his time such as Theodor Findeisen and Ludwig Manoly
Ludwig Manoly

Ludwig Manoly was a Hungary-born double bassist who studied in Vienna and upon completing his studies, spent his life in the United States. He was principal bass of the New York Philharmonic from 1892, after performing with the orchestra since 1880, and faculty at the National Coservatory, under the direction of Antonin Dvorak, and the Insti...
, who came to New York City becoming principal bass of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic

The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842. Based in New York City, the Philharmonic performs most of its concerts at Avery Fisher Hall....
 and was an influential teacher.

The Simandl "family tree" of bass pedagogues extends for many generations. Prominent bassist/educators who can trace their lineage directly back to Simandl include Richard Davis
Richard Davis

Richard Davis is an United States double bass player who has been a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1977. Originally from Chicago, he first became known in that city before establishing himself in New York City for twenty-three years....
, Mark Dresser
Mark Dresser

Mark Dresser is an United States virtuoso double bass player and composer.He has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of "new" jazz composition and improvisation....
, Joseph Guastafeste, Greg Sarchet, Gary Karr
Gary Karr

Gary Karr , is an American Classical music double bass virtuoso and teacher....
, Hermann Reinshagen, Karl E. H. Seigfried
Karl E. H. Seigfried

Karl E. H. Seigfried is a German-American jazz, Rock music, and classical music bassist, guitarist, composer, bandleader, and educator based in Chicago....
, Ludwig Streicher
Ludwig Streicher

Ludwig Streicher was a contrabassist from Vienna, Austria. Familiar to many as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's contrabass first chair and soloist, he is also known as a self-taught instructor and as the author of a popular contrabass textbook....
, Bertram Turetzky
Bertram Turetzky

Bertram Turetzky is a contemporary American double bass soloist, teacher, and author of The Contemporary Contrabass , a book that looked at a number of new and interesting ways of playing the double bass including featuring it as a solo performance vehicle with no other instrumental accompaniment....
, and Frederick Zimmermann
Frederick Zimmermann

Frederick Zimmermann was an American double bassist and teacher. He played in the New York Philharmonic from 1930-1966 serving as assistant-principal and principal and taught at the Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University....
.

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