Best orchestral parts for double bass?

[MandShef]

Every now & then the members of our orchestra get to vote for what they'd like the orchestra to play that year. It got me wondering what are the best orchestral works for double bass i.e. pieces that don't involve e.g. just plonking one note per bar over & over, or sitting counting in your head for endless bars rest!! We're playing Rimsky-Korsakov's Schehezerade at the mo, which is pretty good. What else do you rate?

[FLoydElgar]

Mozart symphony no 40. 1st mvt
Tchaikovsky symphony 4. 1st mvt
Mahler symphony no 2 1st mvt


Lots of fun!

[MandShef]

Thanks! I'll check them out.

[chrkelly]

Anything by Richard Strauss, my favourite at the is Ein Heldenleben. Bloody difficult though, figure 9 is always on every audition excerpt list.

Beethoven symphonies (3/5/7/9 are the best bass ones imo)

Brahms symphonies

Mahler 2

Mozart 38-40

Shostakovich 5

[MandShef]

Thanks, getting a good list to check out! I'm guessing some of the scores will be available on IMSLP so I can have a sneak preview!

[27 frets]

Handel's[i] The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba[/i] is a popular piece, enjoyable to play, but not particularly difficult on bass - mainly quavers whilst higher strings play semiquavers