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Creator
Zimmermann, Frederick, 1906-1967
Call number
JOB 79-10
Physical description
13 linear ft. (52 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

The Frederick Zimmermann Collection of Double Bass Music, JOB 79-10, Music Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations.

Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Frederick Zimmermann Collection of Double Bass Music is the music used by one of the leading performers and teachers of the double bass.

Biographical/historical information

Frederick Zimmerman was born on May 18, 1906 in New York City. He began double bass studies with Herman Reinshagen, a double bass player with the New York Philharmonic and teacher at the Institute of Musical Art (later the Juilliard School of Music). He also studied theory with Felix Deyo and Ruggiero Vene (an assistant of Ottorino Respighi).

Zimmermann joined the New York Philharmonic in 1930 and gave his debut solo recital in 1932. In 1935 he succeeded Reinshagen as teacher at the Juilliard School of Music. He played with the New York Philharmonic through 1966 and was their principle player for many years. He also taught at Columbia University, the Manhattan School of Music, the Mannes College of Music and New York University in New York City, and at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, and the New School of Music in Philadelphia. Many double bass players were his students. In 1966 he published A Contemporary concept of bowing technique for the double bass.

Frederick Zimmermann married his wife Dorothy in 1931. In addition to his musical activities, he studied painting with George Grosz at the Art Students' League and had three one-man shows.

Frederick Zimmerman died at age 61 on August 3, 1967, while in Ohlstadt, Germany.

Scope and arrangement

The Frederick Zimmerman Collection of Double Bass Music represents the many activities of a noted double bass player. A student of Herman Reinshagen (double bass player of the New York Philharmonic), Zimmermann inherited many of his teacher's arrangements and music collection. From Zimmermann's capacity as orchestra player there are a number of orchestral parts, many of them containing copious markings with regard to bowing, phrasing, and articulation.

In his capacity as teacher, Zimmermann arranged many works for groups of double bass players. (Lists of compositions arranged for one, two, three or four double basses will be found at the end of this finding aid.) There are many works originally written for various soloists (e.g. sonatas for piano and another instrument) where Zimmermann or others have arranged the solo part for double bass. He also composed many studies designed to assist the student in gaining mastery of the instrument. Many of these studies deal with difficult rhythms and unusual time signatures. Zimmermann also gave lecture demonstrations and the texts of several of these are also included in the collection.

The Frederick Zimmermann collection of double bass music is arranged in six series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The Frederick Zimmerman Collection of Double Bass Music was acquired from Dorothy Zimmermann.

Processing information

Processed by Music Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Robert Kosovsky.

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to copy or publish please contact the Music Division.