Description Bottesini DUETTO Nr 1 A Major (Bunya) For violoncello and double bass Bottesini’s career started in 1835 when he decided to study music. Since there were only two places to study at the Conservatory of Milan (one for bassoon and one for double bass), he chose double bass because of his family background. So Bottesini started studying double bass and composition when he was only 13 years old in 1835. Only one year later he had already composed three large works: Sinfonia in Re, Variazioni per Contro-Basso sopra un tema nella opera “La Straniera” con Orchestra and Tre Grandi duetti per due contro bassi. These three Grandi Duetti Bottesini dedicated to his teacher Luisi Rossi. The present version is my arrangement of the first of these duets for violoncello and double bass. I considered such an arrangement necessary because there are almost no pieces for violoncello and double bass of the high romantic period. I am especially glad, that the present piece can now be played on violoncello and double bass. Michinori Bunya, Feb 2006
