Inspire, Educate, Connect
Bass World — Volumes 31-39 (2007-2017)
About Bass World
Bass World is an eclectic, not-for-profit magazine published for the enjoyment and education of the ISB's membership. It serves as a vital link among the members of the international bass-playing community. Regular features include: columns for soloists, orchestra members, jazz bassists, and electric bass; advice from experts about instrument maintenance; profiles of early and 20th century music specialists; discussions of health issues for bassists; tips for teachers of young bassists; a page just for kids; reviews of new recordings and music; and interviews with leading bassists from around the world.
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- Back issues of Bass World magazine, portrait calendars, and convention programs are available for members in searchable PDF format in the George Vance Online Library.
The links below will open recent issues of Bass World into a flipbook style reading experience. If you are not logged in as an ISB member, you will be prompted to login first. After clicking on the link, read the issue by using the navigation bar at the bottom of the landing page to go forward or back.
Search through past issues of Bass World as digital flipbooks, organized ten years at a time:
Volumes 31-39 (2007-2017) Volumes 40-49 (2017-2026)
Volume 39
Number 1
(June 2016)
Click here to read Dmitri Shostakovich: Music and Adaptations for Double Bass and Piano by Jean-Pierre Robert in French. To read this article in its final English translation, see Bass World Volume 39 #1.
- ISB Welcomes Cuban Bassists
- Development of a Personalized Method for Right-Hand Jazz Bass Pizzicato
- Qualities of Teaching That Influence Our Work and Relationships
- The Skellet Knell, A Crowd-Sourced Commission
- Dmitri Shastakovich: Music and Adaptations for Double Bass and Piano
- Make a Splash with Pulcinella
- Different Strokes
- Teaching Tips
- Body & Bass
- In the Zone
- Rumblings
- The Latest Score
- Milestones
- Sounding Board
Number 2
(October 2016)
- 50th Anniversary Interview with Gary Karr
- Thing’s I’ve Learned from Owning Too Many Basses
- Interview with ISB President Douglas Mapp
- SWAP – A Better Sounding Bass Section
- Danny Ziemann Gives Us the Lowdown
- Lev Rakov: 75 Years with the Double Bass
- Different Strokes
- Teaching Tips
- Body & Bass
- In the Zone
- Luthier’s Corner
- Rumblings
- All That Jazz
- The Latest Score
- Milestones
- Sounding Board
Number 3
(February 2017)
- 100 Days to ISB 2017
- Copyright “Bassi-ics”
- Double Bass Parts for String Quintets of the 18th and 19th Centuries
- New Members-Only Benefit: 2015 Convention Videos
- President’s Corner
- Different Strokes
- Teaching Tips
- Body & Bass
- In the Zone
- Luthier’s Corner
- Rumblings
- All That Jazz
- The Latest Score
- Young Bassist’s Page
- Sounding Board
Volume 38
Number 1
(June 2015)
- Erik Moseholm: Bassist and Jazz Strategist
- Milt Hinton’s Legacy Shines on at Oberlin
- Welcome to Fort Collins – Douglas Mapp
- 2015 ISB Big Bass Bash Preview
- Young Bassist’s Program Preview
- All That Jazz – An interview with Larry Gray
- On the Trail of the Octobasse in Mirecourt, France
- Different Strokes
- Body & Bass
- Luthier’s Corner – Lou DiLeone: Mentor to Many
- The Latest Score
- In the Zone – Brian Perry, David Milburn, Nicholas Browne
- Young Bassist Page
- Reviews
Number 2
(October 2015)
- The 2015 ISB Convention at Colorado State University
- Scott LaFaro Bass Dedication
- Build a Bass in a Week, An Interview with Dustin Williams
- My Week with the National Symphony Orchestra – Rudy Albach
- Young Bassists Program – A Parent’s Perspective
- The 2015 Young Bassists Program
- Noontime Bass Ensembles
- New Music Summit
- Exploring Eugene Levinson’s School of Agility – Joel Braun
- How to Ignite Your Inner Teacher – David Ballam
- Different Strokes
- Body & Bass
- Milestones –Evgeny Kolosov’s
- Child’s Play
- In The Zone – Katherine Munagian, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and Kevin Brown, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Rumblings – Heather Miller Lardin
- Young Bassist’s Page
- Reviews
Number 3
(February 2016)
- Mini Basses in Mexico by Claus Freudenstein
- The Right Word(s) at the Right Time by Larry Hurst
- Richard Strauss, Sonata Op. 6 for Transcribed for Double Bass
- Carlos Surinach’s Double Concerto for Flute, Bass, and Chamber Choir
- Make a Splash with Pulcinella
- Different Strokes
- Milestones
- Luthier’s Corner – Seth Kimmel
- Centerfold – The “LaFaro Prescott” Restoration
- In The Zone – Daniel Tosky, Atlanta Symphony
- Rumblings – John Feeney
- Roll Call – Utah Symphony Orchestra Bass Section
- The Latest Score
- Sounding Board
- Product Review
Volume 37
Number 1
(June 2013)
- Catalonian Virtuoso Josep Cervera Bret
- 10 Questions for Orin O’Brien (Part 2)
- Giving Your Shoulder a Break by Murray Grodner
- Body & Bass - warm up and cool down
- Meet Luthier Albert Jakstadt
Number 2
(October 2013)
- The 2013 ISB Convention at the Eastman School of Music
- 2013 ISB Convention: Daily Spotlights
- The "Other" ISB Convention
- Historically Informed Performance at the ISB
- 2013 ISB Convention Exhibits
- Amateur Players Forum 2013
- Scenes from the 2013 ISB Young Bassists Concert
- Centerfold - ISB Makers Competition Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
- In the Zone: Orchestra Audition Winners - Alexander Jacobsen and Daniel Carson
- Young Bassists - A Look Back at the 2013 ISB Young Bassists Program
Number 3
(February 2015)
- An Interview with Bert Turetzky
- Xavier Foley: Redefining Diversity at Sphinx
- Different Strokes - Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben by Alex Hanna
- Body & Bass – Bow Tie
- Luthier’s Corner – The Wolf Note
- Rumblings – On the Trail of the Octobasse in Mirecourt, france
- In the Zone: Christopher Johnson, Winner, 2013 ISB Orchestra Competition
- The Latest Score
- Sounding Board
Volume 36
Number 1
(June 2012)
- An Interview with Bassist Larry Hurst
- In Search of Nino Rota and his Divertimento for Double Bass of 1973
- The Hindemith Sonata: A Detective Story (in memoriam Peter Falk)
- Top 10 Suggestions for Non-Bassist Classroom Teachers Working with Bass Students
- Bringing Bass Lines to Life: Miyako
- My Turn - Pickin' for the Prez by Bill Amatneek
- Different Strokes - Bottesini's Concerto No. 2 by Brett Shurtliffe
- Hot Shots - Todd Lockwood and Derek Zadinsky
- Body & Bass - The Benefits of Cross Training
- Young Bassists - Bass Players Taking Over the World! Entering Your Bass Community
Number 2
(October 2012)
- The Mobile Bass: Which Cars are Best for Hauling Your Bass
- All That Jazz - Eddie Khan
- Body & Bass - Your Dog Will Never Hear Mahler's Symphony No.2 'Resurrection'
- Luthier's Corner - Dancing with Wolf Tones
- Hot Shots - Colin Corner
- The Wired Bassist - Lessons in the Clouds
Number 3
(February 2013)
- Welcome to Rochester
- Requiem That is a Dream: Rediscovering Giovanni Bottesini's Choral Masterpiece
- 10 Questions for Orin O'Brien (Part 1)
- Crowd-Funding: Artists and Their Fans Take Charge
- Poem: Missing Mr. Brown
- Story Behind the Picture - Come Fly With Me
- In the Zone: Orchestra Audition Winners - Fora Baltacigil
- The List - Paul Kowert
- Body & Bass - What is that terrible ringing in my ears? Tinnitus: Causes and Treatment
Volume 35
Number 1
(June 2011)
- H. Stevens Brewster Jr., A Teacher
- Creating a Competent Double Bassist, Analysis of Physical Performance Techniques and Solutions for Technical Performance Problems
- Remembering Eldon R. Obrecht
- The Apricot Tree
- Luthier's Corner - Ask the Luthiers
- The Story Behind the Picture - A Magic Touch
- Centerfold - The John Lott Bass Formerly Owned By Art Davis
- Hot Shots - 51
- Body & Bass - A Few Practical Ideas for Stress Reduction
- All That Jazz - The Life, Career, and Music of Bob Whitlock
- Young Bassists - World Peace Through Low Tones
Number 2
(October 2011)
- The 2011 ISB Convention at San Francisco State University
- Fifth ISB Maker's Competition
- Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D, Problem of the Contrabasso Solo in the Third Movement
- Amateur Bassists Forum in San Francisco
- Luthier's Corner - Fifth ISB Maker's Competition
- Hot Shots - Ted Botsford, Kevin Jablonski, Nicholas Recuber
- Body & Bass - Stretching the Piriformis Muscle
- Different Strokes
- Centerstage - The Sound of the Bass
- Young Bassists - San Fran Jam 2011
Number 3
(February 2012)
- William "Keter" Betts: Everybody's Hand Man
- In Search of Nino Rota and his Divertimento for Double Bass of 1973
- Johann Mattias Sperger (1750-1812) Sonatas for Contrabass and Piano Adaptation and Publication - Klaus Trumpf
- Velkommen til København!
- Child's Play - Starting a Class of Young Bassists
- My Turn - Excellence in the Age of Ratings
- Luthier's Corner - Ask the Luthiers
- Hot Shots - Gaelen McCormick
- Body & Bass - The Use of Ice and/or Heat
- Young Bassists - College Auditions
Volume 34
Number 1
(June 2010)
- A Week with the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Passing the Torch: An Interview with Andi Beckendorf
- Percussive Performance Techniques on the Double Bass
- Salvador Amato: Crossing Borders with the Double Bass
- Interview with Bruce Bransby
- Eugene Levinson: A Celebration of 25 Years and a Life in Music
- The String Quintets of George Onslow
- Finding My Way Home: The Miraculous Musical Journey of Ned Mann
- My Turn - Bass Sounds in South Africa
- Child's Play - The Double Bass Class of the Conservatory of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo
- Luthier's Corner - Luthiers, What's On Your Mind?
- Body & Bass - Descriptions of Selected Bodywork Modalities
- Young Bassists - Orchestral Etiquette
Number 2
(October 2010)
- Remembering Zoltilln Tibay
- A Tribute to Kazuo Okuda
- Concepts for Improvising on the Double Bass
- Nueve: How I Performed in Two Places at One Time
- Chamber Music Treasures: An Annotated List of Bass Players' Favorites
- An Interview with Timothy Pitts
- Paul Chihara's Logs: An Appreciation
- Anything but Elementary: Sherlock Holmes Returns in Jon Deak's "The Speckled Band"
- Domenico Dragonetti: Into the Light
- Outreach Activism: Award-Winning Chicago Area Bassist Takes Early Music into the Classroom
- My Turn - Masterclasses in Austria
- Body & Bass - Posture and the Double Bassist
- Different Strokes - Below the Staff: Some Thoughts on Using the Extension in Orchestra
- Young Bassists - Preparing for the Competition Experience
Number 3
(February 2011)
- Interview with Bruce Gertz
- An Oscar for Oscar: Oscar Collins Pettiford
- A Celebration of the Career of Joseph Guastafeste, Principal Bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- On Transcribing Rossini
- Child's Play - Training as a Teacher in Argentina: Ways to Teach Young Bassists - Where to Turn for Ideas
- Luthier's Corner - Ask the Luthiers
- Hot Shots - Brian Johnson, Brian Smith, Jory Herman, Joseph H. Conyers, Kathryn Nettleman
- Body & Bass - Balancing the Use of Large and Small Muscles: Playing with Minimal Tension and Maximum Ease
- Roll Call - Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
- Young Bassists - Kansas Bass Club
Volume 33
Number 1
(June 2009)
- Bass Fest In at the Deep End (Glasgow, Scottland)
- An Interview with Kurt Muroki: On chamber music, the importance of listening, and being a musician first
- Tackling the Karr Koussevitzky Bass
- Hot Shots - Alexander Hanna and James Stroup
- Luthier's Corner 35
- Body & Bass - Results from 'A Survey of, for and about Bassists'
- Young Bassists - What's in a Tape? and Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Number 2
(October 2009)
- 2009 ISB Convention in Review at Penn State University
- Noontime Playtime at the ISB Convention
- 2009 Convention Gallery
- A Tribute to George Vance
- Jon Deak: From Bernstein to Maazel, Four Decades with the New York Philharmonic
- 2009 Maker's Competition Report
- My Turn - The Socially Networked Musician by Ben Allison
- Young Bassists - The Uplifting Top
Number 3
(February 2010)
- A Sound All Its Own: Sydeman's "For Double Bass Alone" Fifty Years Later
- Music for Low String Ensemble
- History of the Double Bass in China
- Drying Wood for Bass Lutherie
- Child's Play - A Young Teacher Teaching Young Bassists
- Luthier's Corner - Luthier Q&A
- Body & Bass - Definitions of Diagnosed Conditions of Bassists
- Young Bassists - Setting Limits
Volume 32
Number 1
(June 2008)
- Literature and Performance of Music for Double Bass and Tape
- Tunings, Timbre and Talking Bass, an interview with Frank Proto and Paul Ramsler
- Bob Zimmerman: Living the Legacy, Playing it From the Heart
- The Story Behind the Picture: Chubby Jackson
- Centerfold - Glorious Gaglianos
- Body & Bass - The Physical Musician and the Inner Musician: Bringing Them into Balance
- Different Strokes - Otello and Haydn
- Child's Play - XXIII Suzuki Festival in Peru
Number 2
(October 2008)
- Introduction to Slap Bass: History, Setup, and Technique
- My Turn - Electric Life with an Orchestra: Norman Ludwin
- Body & Bass - Survey Request
- Centerstage - Owen Lee, Kees Boersma, Mark Morton, Hal Robinson
- Hot Shots - Brett Shurtliffe, Andrew Raciti, Kristen Bruya, Doug Balliett
- Young Bassists - Tuning Your Bass
Number 3
(February 2009)
- Ron Carter Biography Preview: The Art and Science of the Bass
- The Ritual Bass
- My Turn - Marilyn Parman Returns to the Bass at Age Seventy
- Hot Shots - Ed Paulsen, Paul DeNola
- Child's Play - Suzuki Double Bass in Europe for the First Time
- Body & Bass - Awaken Your Feet, Strengthen Your Foundation
- All That Jazz - The Legacy of Ralph Peña
- Luthier's Corner - Do Bridge Adjusters Affect the Bass Sound?
Volume 31
Number 1
(June 2007)
- A Bass Viol Thing to Do
- Creative Collaboration: The Bass I Made for Charlie Haden
- In Memory of Rodion Azarkhin
- Ginastera from the First Desk
- DaXun Zhang
- Child's Play - So you're graduating from music school...now what? (Part Two: Developing a Bass Studio)
- In the Footsteps of Richard Davis
- Hot Shots - Scott Dixon, Scott Pingel
- All That Jazz - Eddie Jones and Chuck Andrus
- Body & Bass - Facing Focal Dystonia
- Orchestra Roll Call - Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Young Bassists - X marks the spot
Number 2
(October 2007)
- Bass Love: The 2007 ISB Convention at Oklahoma City University
- First Ever Historically Informed Performance Mini-Conference Was Totally "HIP"!
- 2007 ISB Makers' Competition
- Centerfold - Bernard Simon Fendt Double Bass
- My Turn - A Week of Bass Love by Vladimir Bernstein
- Body & Bass - Reassessing Patterns of Movement, Listening And Thought
- Centerstage - Dealing With Performance Anxiety
- Young Bassists - AmBASSador
Number 3
(February 2008)
- A Walk Through Time: An Exhibition of the Great Brescian Masters
- The Viola da Gamba & the Double Bass - Transcribing Unaccompanied Lyra-Viol Works for the Double Bass
- My Turn 5
- The Last of the Ninth
- Body & Bass - Breathing
- Hot Shots - My ISB Orchestra Competition Experience by Tony Perry
- Young Bassists - Gut Strings
Search through past issues of Bass World as digital flipbooks, organized ten years at a time: