Theodor Albin Findeisen (Oct. 1, 1881 - March 3, 1936) was a German double bassist, composer and pedagogue. Little is known about Findeisen's life. He was the son of a merchant, and took music lessons from an early age. As a teenager, he studied with the famous double bass pedagogue Franz Simandl, and later on served in the military in the music corps. After that he became a soloist in Breslau, and joined the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig. In 1922 he started teaching at the Leipzig Conservatory, and held both performing and teaching positions until his death. He wrote many etudes and studies for the double bass that are still used today, but much of his work remains in obscurity.

Written for violin and double bass, Romantic Suite  is a four movement work. Both instruments share the melody on and off throughout, and both play in all registers of their instrument, including some very high harmonics for the double bass.

The first movement, entitled "At the Birch Forest" starts with the double bass, and the violin follows, mimicking the double bass in a sort of call and answer, which follows throughout the calm movement.

"Night March of the Gnomes", the second movement, is fun, and slightly mischievous sounding, fitting for gnomes!

The third movement, "Underneath the Hazel bush" opens up with the violin, and has a mood similar to the first; slower and calm, and almost chorale like at times.

In the fourth movement, "Eavesdropping", the violin has a whimsical fun theme. and the movement as a whole is chipper and bouncy.

Here are some recordings of this duet for you to enjoy!

Rarities for String Bass
Miloslav Hrdlik and Jaroslav Sveceny