Two Eighteenth-Century Arias

These two bass arias offer a range of musical and technical challenges for the good intermediate bassist, with lively and evocative accompaniments. Revenge, Timotheus Cries is from ‘Alexander’s Feast’ and is a lively and energetic aria in C major. Abounding in scale and arpeggio figures, it makes use of low thumb position, also using the lower register to good effect, and would make an accessible recital or study piece for any bassist of about Grade 8 standard. Behold the Monstrous Beast is taken from ‘Belshazzar’ and a heroic and dramatic approach will produce a convincing and successful performance. There are technical challenges in the orchestral range of the double bass, going no higher than low thumb position, and would make a useful recital or study piece for any bassist of about Grade 8 standard. Neither piece is too difficult for any adventurous bassist who has some technical skills on the G string and into low thumb position. The arias transcribe well for double bass and are a useful addition to the transcription repertoire. This edition includes piano accompaniments for both solo and orchestral tunings.