Description
Koussevitzky’s Double Bass Concerto op. 3 has gained immense popularity within its genre since its premiere in Moscow in 1905, thanks to its masterful blend of Romantic melody and dazzling virtuosity. This acclaim is unsurprising, as Koussevitzky, a virtuoso double bass player, composed the piece specifically for his own instrument. A preliminary piano reduction was published in Moscow as early as 1906/07, followed by another in Leipzig in 1910. However, both versions contain numerous errors in the solo part, leading to ongoing uncertainty regarding the accurate musical text in various sections. To address this, double bass player Tobias Glöckler has created an Urtext edition by consulting multiple sources, including the manuscript performance materials and the piano reductions released during the composer’s lifetime, as well as recordings featuring Koussevitzky as the soloist. This meticulous research has culminated in a thoroughly vetted Urtext edition of both the orchestral score and the piano reduction, solidifying its status as a classic in double bass literature. Consistent with all double bass concertos published by Henle Publishers, this edition also includes a piano reduction by Christoph Sobanski in two keys (E minor and F sharp minor) suitable for performance with either solo or orchestral tuning.
