24 Caprices

Isaia Billè (1874–1961) was an Italian double bass virtuoso, composer, and pedagogue whose extraordinary technique made him principal bass soloist in major Italian orchestras, including La Scala in Milan and the Rome Opera. He toured the United States with the renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini, appeared as a soloist across Europe, and taught at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome. His Nuovo Metodo per Contrabbasso, published in 1922, remains one of the most significant double bass methods ever written.

Composed in 1919 and first published by Ricordi in 1921, the 24 Studi-Capricci were conceived as the culmination of Billè's method—the final stage in a complete course of study from the basic elements to the highest levels of virtuosity. Each caprice is carefully crafted to address specific technical difficulties while presenting noteworthy musical content, challenging the performer to reach a solo level comparable to any other string soloist. Their importance can be compared to celebrated sets for other instruments, such as Paganini's 24 Caprices for violin.

Yet these remarkable studies fell into oblivion. Written in suono reale notation—a style today's double bassists can no longer easily read—the caprices were never republished in contemporary notation, leaving a cornerstone of the double bass repertoire largely inaccessible for over a century.

This new edition presents an accurate version of the 24 Studies-Caprices that can be easily read by contemporary double bassists. Far more than a simple transposition, it is the result of careful study of the analyzed sources, including Billè's original manuscript—correcting wrong and missing notes, restoring deleted measures, and refining fingerings and rhythms to prioritize what could be Isaia Billè's ultimate intention.

“By re-editing the 24 Caprices, I hope to contribute to the expansion of the current double bass repertoire and inspire bassists all around the world to perform the works of this giant of the double bass history.”

Whether you are an advanced student building solo-level technique or a professional expanding your repertoire, this edition finally places one of the great caprice collections of the bowed string tradition back in the hands of the double bass community.