CD: David Sinclair - Wiener Stimmung

Works for the Viennese Bass from the late 18th Century

The repertoire of this CD illustrates the different facets of the word ‘Stimmung’ (meaning ‘tuning’ but also ‘mood’). It portrays an instrument, the “Viennese double bass”, that could come into being only during that period of the eighteenth century in which a special interest in new timbres and instrumental inventions prevailed.

A special characteristic is its five-string configuration with third-fourth tuning and that it was always played with frets. A small number of works even demand the Viennese tuning a minor third higher. Solo playing evolved on the Viennese double bass, and a large number of important compositions were written for it during the last third of the eighteenth century, some of which you can hear on this CD.

[Of particular interest on this CD is a hitherto unknown concerto for Viennese double bass by Anton Zimmermann (1741–1781), which was discovered in the musical holdings of the Benedictine monastery in Kremsmünster in Upper Austria. It is recorded here for the first time.]

David Sinclair is known for his pioneering work with the Viennese double bass and has been teaching at the SCB since 1996. The ensemble on this recording is made up of teachers and former students of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. They all share the ideals of the Basel training institution and a common understanding of ensemble playing.

David Sinclair, Leila Schayegh, Soko Yoshida, Mariana Doughty, Lukas Hamberger, Christophe Coin, Jonathan Pesek, Alexandre Zanetta, Hsiang-Chi Lee, Giorgio Paronuzzi

Concerto in D major for double bass, 2 horns, 2 violins, viola and basso

Sonata in B minor for double bass and violoncello "Anno 1790" (WV C i/10)

Sonata in F major (originally D major) for viola da gamba (double bass) and basso

Concerto in D major for double bass, 2 horns, 2 violins and basso

Trio in F major (originally A major) for baryton (double bass), viola and basso Hob. xi:121)