Catálogo de Obras Brasileiras Para Contrabaixo

Tuning – The double bass is commonly tuned in two ways: Orchestral tuning (E, A, d, g) or Solo tuning (F#, B, e, a), a special tuning that requires a specific set of strings and produces a more brilliant and louder sound. In this case, the bass part is printed a major second lower than the accompaniment part. S = Solo, O = Orchestra and E = Either.

Range – Indicates the lowest and highest notes in the work. R = X / Y where: X = lowest note and Y = highest note. Ex: E/g’’ where c’ is equals ‘middle c.’
Note: the term limit was adopted to indicate when the whole range of the instrument is being used, since range varies according to the length of the fingerboard.

Level of Difficulty – Indicates the technical demand of the piece. The level is categorized by numbers as follows: 1 - 4 = beginner, 5 - 7 = intermediate and 8 - 10 = advanced
Ex: LDB = 7, where LDB = level of difficulty of the (double) bass part.
LDP = level of difficulty of the piano part.

The criteria for determining the LDB are based mainly on the range explored. On a scale from 1 to 10, the lowest number represents the use of the lowest range of the instrument. When an exception occurs, that is, despite the low range that piece is somehow difficult to perform, that is explained within the text about the particular piece.

The criteria for determining the LDP are based mainly on the range explored, the presence of part-playing and different articulations. In a scale from 1 to 10 the lowest number represents a piano accompaniment exploring a small range (2 to 3 octaves), with similar articulations in both hands and without part-playing. As this level of complexity increases, the LDP also goes up in the scale.

Duration – Indicates the approximate duration of the piece in minutes. Ex: D = X', where X is equals the duration in minutes.

Instrumentation – Indicates which instrument/s is/are used in the piece other than the double bass, in the Chamber Music section.
I = name/s of the instrument/s or
I = duo, trio or quartet, when the piece is written for double bass ensemble.

Composers’ Alphabetical Index – The index lists the names of the composers in alphabetical order and indicates where in the catalogue his/her works can be found. The numbers in front of the composer’s name indicate the number of a work within a section. Composers who have more than one work will have the numbers of each work separated by comas. Ex: ALBRIGHT, Valerie.13, 69.