Functional development of the double-bass in the evolutionary process of the orchestra

The evolutionary development of symphonic orchestra has taken approximately four-hundred years spanning from the 17th century to present. Within this time period, the double-bass has maintained its functional progress in the orchestra. The double-bass, serving merely as a Basso Continuo instrument along with the cembalo and other bass instruments in Baroque orchestras, had also a limited role in Classical orchestras doubling the cello section an octave lower, thus, only reinforcing the bass notes of the harmony. Most of the time, Classical composers did not write out a separate double-bass part and expected the player to perform from the cello part.In the 19th century, crucial progresses came about in the orchestral world. The double-bass, together with the other orchestral instruments, exposed to structural modifications and researches took place with the aim to heighten instrument?s technical and musical capacity. The main reason for this was the fact that the Romantic composers, for the sake of musical expression, had high demands which required advanced technical and musical skills. As a result, the double-bass section of the orchestra, particularly in many late-Romantic symphonic works, was given melodic lines that were technically challenging.Music took an experimental direction in the 20th century; composers wrote works that favor texture, color, sound and effects giving up on the traditional components such as melody and harmony and this approach naturally affected the double-bass?s function within the orchestra. The instrument?s technical and sonic capacity was stretched and totally new playing techniques and notational methods were utilized. Tapping or knocking on the body of the instrument for percussive effects, playing behind the bridge, grinding the bow on the strings and hitting the strings with various gadgets are among these well-known new techniques.