Franz Simandl (August 1, 1840 – December 15, 1912) was a Czech double-bassist 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 ...

most remembered for his book ''New Method for the Double 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) for stopping the strings in 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 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, now over a century old, is still common among classical double bassists, although the book itself is slowly being replaced by newer methods which incorporate modern pedagogical theory. Modern adaptations of, extensions to, and challenges to Simandl doctrines are acknowledged. Simandl studied at the

Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory or Prague Conservatoire ( cs, Pražská konzervatoř) is a music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, Prague Conservatory offers four or six year study courses, which can be compared to the level ...

with before becoming the principal bassist in the Vienna Court Opera Orchestra. He was 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, who moved to New York City becoming principal bass of the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

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 Adolf Míšek (29 August 1875 – 20 October 1955) was a Czech double bassist and composer of the late romantic era. Born in Modletín (then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), he left for Vienna at the age of 15 to study with Franz Simandl a ...

, 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 ...

, Joseph Guastafeste, Greg Sarchet,

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, Karl E. H. Seigfried,

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 Frederick Zimmermann (May 18, 1906 – August 3, 1967) was an American double bassist and teacher. He played in the New York Philharmonic from 1930 to 1966 and taught at the Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, Columbia University, Manha ...

Notes

References

*Simandl, Franz (1956). ''30 studies for string bass''. LCCN 85751475 *Simandl, Franz (1957). ''Gradus ad parnassum : 24 studies for string bass''. LCCN 85752065 *Simandl, Franz (1968). ''New method for string bass''. LCCN 97706725

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Simandl, Franz 1840 births 1912 deaths Czech people of German descent Classical double-bassists Prague Conservatory alumni 19th-century classical musicians