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75 Years on 4 Strings

The Life and Music of François Rabbath

Hans Sturm

$76.95   $65.44

Hardback

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English
Avant Bass
14 February 2022
75 Years on 4 Strings is the authoritative biography of the legendary self-taught double bassist François Rabbath. The much-beloved artist-teacher sat for countless hours of interviews and shared candid stories from throughout his illustrious career, from his earliest memories of his childhood in 1930s Syria to his ninetieth-birthday virtual recital in Paris in 2021. Highlights, such as accompanying twentieth-century French chanson stars Charles Aznavour and Edith Piaf, performing for Pablo Picasso's ninetieth birthday, and premiering his own virtuosic compositions influenced by jazz, Middle Eastern, and classical music in front of crowds of thousands in South America, contrast with the painful consequences of trying to balance a life on the road with a young family, as well as the struggles he faced as a Middle Eastern immigrant in France.

Artists and musicians from around the world spoke of their encounters and collaborations with Rabbath. Many shared their astonishment at hearing him for the first time-describing their reactions to witnessing performances of Bach at the same pitch as the cello, improvisations on major movie soundtracks, or interpretations of adventurous new works composed for him. While he has been called a sorcerer and the Paganini of the double bass, he is also remembered as unstintingly generous and childlike. Rabbath revolutionized the way the double bass is played through his innovative pivot and crab techniques-discoveries that allow the double bass to be played with ease. His multivolume Nouvelle technique method, DVDs, and masterclasses on five continents have influenced a generation of bassists.

Includes photographs.
By:  
Imprint:   Avant Bass
Dimensions:   Height: 229mm,  Width: 152mm,  Spine: 21mm
Weight:   617g
ISBN:   9798985305739
Pages:   304
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Reviews for 75 Years on 4 Strings: The Life and Music of François Rabbath

Certificate of Merit in the 2023 Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research is awarded to 75 Years on 4 Strings: The Life and Music of François Rabbath. The goal of the ARSC Awards Program is to recognize and draw attention to the finest work now being published in the field of recorded sound research. Strings Magazine, July/August 2023 75 Years on 4 Strings is an authorized biography of the Syrian-born bassist and pedagogue François Rabbath... Sturm's greatest achievement in writing this book is its almost unbelievable thoroughness: he conducted extensive interviews with Rabbath himself as well as Rabbath's family, friends, and colleagues, including cameos by Paco Ibáñez, Philippe Petit, Frank Proto, Paul Ellison, GP Cremonini, Thierry Barbé, and many others... Rabbath's legacies as a composer and performer, too, receive the same thorough documentation by Sturm. A complete list of compositions includes brief but invaluable program notes for each work. Enthusiasts of historical and modern recordings will appreciate the complete discography, as well as the long and intriguing story of Rabbath's recording of Bach's Cello Suites. The chronological list of live performances spans 60 years and ends, poignantly, with a pandemic-era celebration of Rabbath's 90th birthday... At nearly 300 pages, 75 Years on 4 Strings is not a short book, but Sturm's vivid style makes it an engaging read... Bassists everywhere will treasure this invaluable resource about one of the most revolutionary figures in the world of double bass technique and performance. Miranda Wilson Bass World, July, 2023 The book is a must-read for all bassists and musicians. Rabbath will be remembered not only for the transformation and elevation of bass technique that he leaves for future generations, but as a unique human being who inspired countless musicians and audiences with his spirit, charm, discipline, dedication, precocious personality, and love of life... François' career (touring with popular singers Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf) cemented his worldwide status as a French virtuoso double bassist, performing his original Middle Eastern influenced music. He wrote movie scores, performed television concerts, and collaborated with Pablo Picasso, Ornette Coleman, and countless popular musicians. Sturm's comprehensive book illuminates new insights, stories and anecdotes. Barry Green The Strad, September, 2022 François Rabbath, virtuoso double bass player, musician, composer and teacher, needs no introduction to the bass playing world but there are many others who will enjoy reading this celebration of his '75 years on 4 strings'. His uniqueness as both man and musician shine out from the pages describing his extraordinary life from autodidact to elder statesman among both players and teachers. We learn how difficult it was at first for classically trained players to understand the relevance of Rabbath's way of playing to their traditional methodology and repertoire, and how he won over their hearts and minds. We are given a wonderfully honest description of Rabbath's recording of all the Bach Cello Suites in Venice at the very beginning of the 21st century. It brings to light just how hard it was to marry the strictures of the recording studio and Rabbath's way of being with music. I cannot recommend highly enough this lovingly written story of the most exciting and revolutionary bass player of our times. Cathy Elliott


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