Welcome to Music Encyclopaedias page, a presentation whose goal is to index all works of this profile that offer a bass related content. Commonly and in addition to standard Double Bass / Violone entry, every Music Encyclopaedia would also offer at least few entries on the known bass players, but for now this listing will offer only the reference to bass instruments. Otherwise, the general criterion for inclusion in this listing were for the publication to present either the “Encyclopaedia” or “Cyclopaedia” word in its title. In some instances you will note that the title may also include a word “Dictionary” or “Lexicon,” and in such cases these works are cross-referenced and cited in respective dictionary categories too.
The documentation pattern applied here is similar to one found in Dictionaries’ pages, and you will find the relevant comments in brackets below the main entry. Where there are several bass entries within a particular work, the most important one will be marked by a red dot. All entries are cited in appearance and font as close to the original found in the text. In many instances these references will contain a period s – ſ , or German double s – ß, and these are preserved and cited as in the original. Some German entries from 19th century encyclopedias have been printed in Gothic font, and where appropriate few of the main points from a particular entry are provided too. Everything else should be self explanatory and ready to serve your search and research interests.
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Alphabetical Listing
Chronological Listing
Geographical Listing 1
Note 1. Geographical listing designates the place of publication, which in some instances may differ from the main residence of the author. The listing of cities however may still offer good reference on important bassists, composers and other musicians, and along the types of stringed bass instruments that were noted in a particular region at the time of publication. Please bear in mind that some Music Encyclopaedias were influenced by information or other printed sources from a different country or culture. Thus the terms and personalities presented may feature a mixture of generally known and location specific entries.
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Champlin, John Denison (1834-1915) – Info – LC Authority
- Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians. 3 vols. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1888-1890.
Vol. I (1888) Abaco-Dyne
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Vol. II (1889) Easter-Mysteres
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Vol. III (1890) Naaman-Zwillingsbrüder
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
[ A biographical dictionary – no term entries. Cited also under Biographical Dictionaries ]
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Danneley, John Feltham (1786-1836) – Info – LC Authority
- An Encyclopædia, or Dictionary of Music … with Upwards of Two Hundred Engraved Examples, the Whole Compiled from the Most Celebrated Foreign and English Authorities, Interspersed with Observations Critical and Explanatory. London: Preston, 1825.
Online View & Download – Google Books 1 – Google Books 2
* All cited pages are scaned page numbers. The book is not paginated.
Basse-contre, p. 52 – Google Books
[ cit. “ a voice deeper and more intense tone than the bass” ]
Basse double, p. 52 – Google Books
[ cit. “the double bass” ]
Basse Taile, p. 52 – Google Books
[ A bass voice register. Describes in English exactly what in many French dictionaries appears as a regular entry ]
Basse de viole, p. 52 – Google Books
[ Term for Viola da Gamba and an 8 foot organ stop ]
Basse de violon, p. 53 – Google Books
[ cit. “corresponding to the violin, but of larger dimension and played like violoncello” ]
Basse de Italiens, p. 53 – Google Books
[ cit. “the same as the basse de violon except that it is tuned a major third lower” ]
Bassetto, p. 53 – Google Books
[ cit. “corresponding to the basse de violon” ]
Contra-bass or Contra Violon, p. 106 – Google Books
[ cit. ‘an organ stop” ]
• Double Bass, p. 138 – Google Books
[ cit. “mounted with two, three, four, and five, but generally with four strings” ]
Violono, p. 398 – Google Books
[ cit. “organ stop of sixteen feet” ]
General Note: This dictionary appears to have a distinct insight in the French and “continental” bass related terms, since the author had studied music in Paris.
[ Cited also under ABP Music Term Dictionaries ]
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De Bekker, L. J. (Leander Jan), 1872-1931 – LC Authority
- J. Stokes’ Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians: Covering the Entire Period of Musical History from the Earliest Times to the Season of 1908-09. New York: F.A. Stokes, 1908.
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Bass Geige, p. 44 – Internet Archive
Contrabasso, p. 134 – Internet Archive
• Double Bass, p. 171 – Internet Archive
Violon, p. 708 – Internet Archive
Violone, p. 708 – Internet Archive
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- Musson’s Cyclopaedia of Music and Musicians Covering the Entire Period of Musical History from the Earliest Times to the Season of 1909-10. Toronto: The Musson Book Co., 1910.
Online View & Download – Canadiana
Bass Geige, p. 44 – Canadiana
Contrabasso, p. 134 – Canadiana
• Double Bass, p. 171 – Canadiana
Violon, p. 708 – Canadiana
Violone, p. 708 – Canadiana
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Elson, Louis Charles (1848-1920) – Info – LC Authority
- University Musical Encyclopedia. 12 vols. New York: The University Society, 1912-1914.
Vol. 1
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
IV. The Double Bass, Stringed Instruments section, vol. 1, pp. 359-362 – Internet Archives
Vol. 9 Dictionary (A-Ma) also a Biographical Dictionary
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Basso da Camera, p. 44 – Internet archive
Contraviolone, p. 134 – Internet Archive
Contrebasse, p. 134 – Internet Archive
• Double Bass, p. 171 – Internet Archive
Vol. 10 Dictionary (Ma-Zy)
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Violone, p. 708 – Internet Archive
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Framery, Nicolas-Étienne (1745-1810) – Info – LC Authority
- Encyclopédie Méthodique. Musique, Publiée Par Mm. Framery Et Guinguené [et De Monsigny]. 2 vols. Paris: Chez Panckoucke, 1818.
[ the featured edition is from 1818, however an earlier edition from the 18th century may predate it ]
Vol. 1 (A-G) 1818
Online View & Download – Gallica
Basse des Italiens, vol. 1, p. 161 – Gallica
Basse de Violon, vol. 1, p. 161 – Gallica
Basse-Contre, vol. 1, p. 161 – Gallica
[ designates a vocal range ]
Bassetto, vol. 1, p. 161 – Gallica
[ explains a relation of French Contre Basse to Italian Violone ]
Contre Basse, vol. 1, p. 316 – Gallica
[ all entries written by Framery ]
Vol. 2 (H-Z) 1818
Online View & Download – Tome 2 (A-G) 1818 – Gallica
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Hubbard, William Lines (1867-1951) – LC Authority
- The American History and Encyclopedia of Music. Toledo: Irving Squire, 1908.
Vol. 10 Musical Dictionary
Onlinbe View & Download – Internet Archive
Contrabass, p. 133 – Internet Archive
Double bass, pp. 171 – Internet Archive
Octobasse, p. 365 – Internet Archive
Violonar, p. 564 – Internet Archive
[ cit. “a name which the French have recently applied to the double bass” ]
Violonaro, p. 564-565 – Internet Archive
[ cit. “A large double bass, tuned fifth lower then the ordinary bass viol and an octave below the violoncello. See Octobasse” ]
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Hughes, Rupert (1872-1956) – Info – LC Authority
- Music Lovers’ Cyclopedia: Containing a Pronouncing and Defining Dictionary of Terms; Instruments, &c., Including a Key to the Pronunciation of Sixteen Languages; Many Charts; an Explanation of the Construction of Music for the Uninitiated; a Pronouncing Biographical Dictionary; the Stories of the Operas; and Numerous Biographical and Critical Essays by Distinguished Authorities. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co, 1912.
Online View & Download – Internet Archive 1 – Internet Archive 2
Base, No. 2 Double Bass, p. 79 – Internet Archive
Contraviolone, p. 102 – Internet Archive
Deutscher Bass, p. 110 – Internet Archive
Double – The Double Bass, p. 116 – Internet Archive
Halb Bass (Halb Violon), p. 157 – Internet Archive
Kontra – Kontrabass, p. 180 – Internet Archive
Octobass, p. 214 – Internet Archive
Violone, p. 301 – Internet Archive
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Kümmerle, Salomon (1838-1896) – Info – LC Authority
- Encyklöpädie Der Evangelischen Kirchenmusik. 4 vols. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann, 1888-1895.
Vol. 1 (A-K) 1888
Online View & Download, – Internet Archive
Contrabaß, vol. 1, p. 288 – Internet Archive
[ Organ Pedal register – points to Subbaß entry ]
Kontrabaß, vol. 1, p. 822 – Internet Archive
[ name used for 16 and 32 foot organ pedal bass registers, presents also Kontraviolon as 16 and 32 foot organ registers, and Kontragamba as a 16 foot organ register ]
Vol. 3 (K-V) 1894
Onlive View & Download, – Internet Archive
Violon, Violonbaß, vol. 3, pp. 803-805 – Internet Archive
[ describes a Violon organ register and presents other sources that cover Violone in both 8 and 16 foot registers, provides a brief history of that organ register too ]
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Mathews, William Smythe Babcock (1837-1912) – Info – LC Authority
- Pronouncing Dictionary and Condensed Encyclopedia of Musical Terms, Instruments, Composers, and Important Works. New York: Townsend Mac Coun, 1884.
Online Download – Sibley Music Library
Bass Viol, col. BEL, p. 7
[ designates violoncello ]
Contrabass, col. CON, p. 14
Double Bass, col. DRO, p. 18
Violono, col. VIO, p. 73
[ Cited also in ABP Music Biographical Dictionaries and ABP Music Term Dictionaries ]
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Moore, John Weeks (1807-1889) – Info – LC Authority
- Complete Encyclopedia of Music: Elementary, Technical, Historical, Biographical, Vocal, and Instrumental. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co, 1854.
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Bass Viol, p. 111 – Internet Archive
Contre-Basse, p. 223 – Internet Archive
Double Bass, Contra Basso or Violono, pp. 262-263 – Internet Archive
Violono, p. 962 – Internet Archive
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MusicBrainz – Online (2000) – Info
Online View & Search – MusicBrainz
Double Bass – MusicBrainz
[ click “aliases” for all worlds spellings and alternate names ]
Violone – MusicBrainz
[ click “aliases” for all worlds spellings and alternate names ]
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Porter, William Smith (1799-1866) – LC Authority
- The Musical Cyclopedia, Or, the Principles of Music Considered As a Science and an Art ; Embracing a Complete Musical Dictionary, and the Outlines of a Musical Grammar, and of the Theory of Sounds and Laws of Harmony, with Directions for the Practice of Vocal and Instrumental Music, and a Description of Musical Instruments. Boston: James Loring, 1834.
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Basse Counter, p. 46 – Internet Archive
Contra Basso, p. 109 – Internet Archive
Counter Basse, pp. 110-111 – Internet Archive
Double Basse, p. 126 – Internet Archive
Viol, pp. 410-411 – Internet Archive
[ A fascinating perception of Viols in the US of the 1830s. Also presenting the tuning of 3 stringed Violone or Double Base ]
• Violono, p. 414-415 – Internet Archive
[ This Cyclopedia is also cited with ABP Music Term Dictionaries due to the term Dictionary in its title ]
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Schilling, Gustav (1805-1880) – Info – LC Authority
- Encyclopädie der Gesamten Musikalischen Wissenschaften oder Universal-Lexicon der Tonkunst. 6 vols. Stuttgart: Franz Heinrich Kößler, 1834-1838.
Vol. 1 (1835) A-Bq
Online View & Download – MDZ
Basse de Violon, p. 465 – MDZ
Basse double, p. 465 – MDZ
Baßinstrumente, p. 468 – MDZ
[ cites Violon, Violoncell, Fagott, Contrafagott, Baßposaune as typical bass instruments ]
Vol. 2 (1835) Braga – F-Moll
Online View & Download – MDZ
• Contra-Violon, oder Contrabaß, Ital. Violono, pp. 304-305 – MDZ
Vol. 3 (1836) Fockerodt – Irland
Online View & Download – MDZ
Vol. 4 (1837) Irreguläre Durchgang – Morin
Online View & Download – MDZ
Vol. 5 (1837) Moritz – Ries
Online View & Download – MDZ
Vol. 6 (1838) Reisenharfe – Zyka
Online View & Download – MDZ
Violon, vol. 6 (R-Z) 1838, p. 780 – MDZ
Violono, vol. 6 (R-Z) 1838, p. 781 – MDZ
[ This Encyclopaedia is also cited under ABP Music Biographical Dictionaries due to the term Lexicon in its title ]
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- Encyclopädie der Gesamten Musikalischen Wissenschaften oder Universal-Lexicon der Tonkunst. 2nd ed. 6 vols with additional volume. Stuttgart: Franz Heinrich Kößler 1840-1842.
The Second Editions appears to offer reprints in bass related entries.
Vol. 1 (1840) A-Bq
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Basse de Violon, p. 465 – Internet Archive
Basse double, p. 465 – Internet Archive
Baßinstrumente, p. 468 – Internet Archive
[ cites Violon, Violoncell, Fagott, Contrafagott, Baßposaune as typical bass instruments ]
Vol. 2 (1840) Braga – F-Moll
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
• Contra-Violon, oder Contrabaß, Ital. Violono, vol. 2 (B-F), pp. 304-305 – Internet Archive
[ Schilling’s “Kontrabass” entry is mentioned by AMZ 1840, col. 213 in a review of Kastner’s Traité Général D’instrumentation ]
Vol. 3 (1840) Fockerodt – Irland
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Vol. 4 (1840) Irreguläre Durchgang – Morin
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Vol. 5 (1841) Moritz – Ries
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Vol. 6 (1840) Reisenharfe – Zyka
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Violon, vol. 6, p. 780 – Internet Archive
Violono, vol. 6, 781 – Internet Archive
Supplement Vol. (1842)
Online View & Download – MDZ – Internet Archive
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Wier, Albert Ernest (1879-1945) – Info – LC Authority
- The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York, NY: The Macmillan Co, 1938.
Online View & Download – Internet Archive
Doublebass, p. 479 – Internet Archive
Violone, p. 1946 – Internet Archive
Page Development Assistance
ABP is grateful on any information that may widen the scope of this listing. Should you know of any other dictionary that may fit the criteria of this bibliography, please contact ABP and your effort will be credited here.
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Created by Igor Pecevski
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Posted: June 7, 2019
Academic Bass Portal 