Double Bassist
Orpheus Publications
Winter 2004
“Michael Hovnanian has done an admirable job of taking advantage of the possibilities of solo tuning. The first movement allows some melody in the upper register, where the orchestral tuning remained in the lower tessitura. Most notable is the famous arpeggio passage in the last movement. Instead of using the lower register, he uses a pattern similar to the prelude of the Bach G major cello suite, slurred in groups of four. This approach will require nimble fingers, a crisp open string attach, and clarity in slurring from the open string to the upper register. The edition contains a valuable section of critical notes containing all changes.
The printing is clearly done on easy-to-read paper. While Hovnanian has made a valiant effort to simplify the page turns when both players read from the same score, there are still challenges to overcome. Every page turn happens when one player is resting, so the possibilities are easier than in previous editions. I would like to have seen editorial fingerings in the part, but it is a small omission in an otherwise excellent edition.”