Reviewed by Nippy Cripwell

Schubertiana: The Affiliate Artists of Kean University.
This is essentially a recording of Schubert’ Quintet in C Major, a work written for String Quartet plus Double Bass. When Martin slipped this CD in with the others for review, I thought it would be too ‘Classical’ to have any immediate reference for our Bass Collective. But while listening to it the thought occurred to me, any Bass player could learn a lot just listening to how a Master composer writes for Bass in what is probably the purist form of Classical music – the String Quartet. With only five voices to listen to, it is easier to hear the individual lines weaving through the movements. One can hear the Bass in it’s usual role laying down a foundation for the upper voices, as well as reinforcing melodic statements with the cello, and even being featured as a voice on it’s own. Stretch yourselves, Bass People, take a jump to the right, and see how a ‘Cool Dude from Way Back When’ wrote for players of the Bottom End.