Franz Simandl (August 1, 1840 – December 15, 1912) was a

double-bassist The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

and

pedagogue Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political, and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken ...

from

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

most remembered for his book ''New Method for String Bass'', known as the "Simandl book", which is to this day used as a standard study of double bass technique and hand positions. His approach uses the first, second, and fourth fingers of the left hand (the third and fourth operating together as one digit) to stop the strings in the lower register of the instrument and divide the fingerboard into various positions. The second volume of the method looks at the use of thumb position 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 into the playing of harmonics. Simandl's "New Method" of playing, originally published in 1881, is still common among classical double bassists, Modern adaptations of, extensions to, and challenges to Simandl doctrines are acknowledged.Crawford, Tim 2009 Solo bassists from the start! The application of contemporary bass pedagogy concepts to beginning string class instruction, in ''American String Teacher'' Magazine 59:3 pp 40-43 Simandl studied at the

Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory () is a public music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, the school offers four- or six-year courses, which can be compared to the level of a high school diploma in other countries. Graduates c ...

with before becoming the principal bassist in the Vienna Court Opera Orchestra. He was a Professor of double-bass at the Vienna Conservatory from 1869 to 1910.Biography of Simandl in English edition of "New method for the double bass", Book 1, edited by Lucas Drew, New York:Carl Fischer, 1964 His pupils include many of the leading bassists of his time such as

Ludwig Manoly Ludwig Manoly (1855–1932) was a Hungarian-born double bassist who studied in Vienna and upon completing his studies, spent his life in the United States.The Baton, Volume 4, No.5 - February 1925, page 2 He was principal bass of the New York Philh ...

, who moved to New York City to become principal bass of the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...

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 Adolf Mišek, Richard Davis,

Mark Dresser Mark Dresser (born September 26, 1952) is an American double bass player and composer. Career Dresser was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the 1970s, he was a member of Black Music Infinity led by Stanley Crouch and performed w ...

, Joseph Guastafeste,

Greg Sarchet Greg is a masculine given name, and often a shortened form of the given name Gregory. Greg (sometimes spelled " Gregg") is also a surname. People with the name * Greg Abbott (disambiguation), multiple people * Greg Abel (born 1961/1962), Canadia ...

Gary Karr Gary Michael Karr (born November 20, 1941, in Los Angeles) is an American classical double bass virtuoso and teacher; he is considered one of the best bassists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Biography Although he comes from several generations ...

Hermann Reinshagen Hermann or Herrmann may refer to: * Hermann (name), list of people with this name * Arminius, chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe in the 1st century, known as Hermann in the German language * Éditions Hermann, French publisher * Hermann, Mis ...

Karl E. H. Seigfried Karl E. H. Seigfried is a German–American jazz, rock, and classical bassist, guitarist, composer, bandleader, writer and educator based in Chicago. Seigfried has performed and taught on the double bass "in virtually all musical styles – f ...

Ludwig Streicher Ludwig Streicher (26 June 1920 – 11 March 2003) was a contrabassist from Vienna, Austria. Familiar to many as the former principal bass of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and bass soloist, he is also known as an instructor and as the author o ...

Bertram Turetzky Bertram Jay Turetzky (born February 14, 1933) is a contemporary American double bass (contrabass) soloist, composer, teacher, and author of ''The Contemporary Contrabass'' (1974, 1989), a book that looked at a number of new and interesting ways o ...

, and Frederick Zimmermann.

Notes

References

*Simandl, Franz (1956). ''30 studies for string bass''.

LCCN The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is a serially based system of numbering cataloged records in the Library of Congress, in the United States. It is not related to the contents of any book, and should not be confused with Library of ...

85751475 *Simandl, Franz (1957). ''Gradus ad parnassum : 24 studies for string bass''.

85752065 *Simandl, Franz (1968). ''New method for string bass''.

97706725

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Simandl, Franz 1840 births 1912 deaths Musicians from Austria-Hungary Classical double-bassists Prague Conservatory alumni 19th-century classical musicians