It’s probably not a surprise to anyone, especially double bassists, that we spend quite a bit of time adapting repertoire to help bolster the small canon of existing works for the instrument.
In my own work, especially with my duo Warren & Flick, I’ve spent considerable time translating music written for other instruments, as my duo partner Grant Flick plays nyckelharpa, violin, tenor guitar, among other instruments.
Generally, I approach any transcription as two intertwined challenges. One is physical: can I actually play the notes, and where do they sit on the instrument in a way that is mechanically possible and ergonomic?
The other is musical: how do I honour the character and intention of the original performance? It’s easy to fall into one of two traps – either to concentrate so intently on mechanics that the music is lost, or to pursue expressive freedom so fully that the piece no longer feels connected to its source. I think the best transcriptions emerge from a process that honours both challenges.
In the case of Amy Beach’s Romance, op. 23, my process began by playing along with numerous recordings of violinists. Although there are existing transcriptions for double bass, I deliberately chose not to consult them. I wanted to ground my understanding of how violinists shape the phrase before making choices specific to the bass.
On the violin, higher passages sit comfortably on the instrument; on the bass, even our highest registers can seem dull at times by comparison. This presented a challenge, as the soaring moments never quite felt as if they had the lift I was seeking. In cases like this, the solution is often to lean more deeply into the strengths of the double bass.
By shifting earlier passages into the warm low register, I aim to prime the listener’s ear and create contrast, so that when the music returns to the upper register it is heard from a different perspective.
Whether I’m adapting classical repertoire or learning fiddle tunes and jazz standards, transcription is a process that continues to fascinate and inform my musical life.
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