h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a nephew who studied bass at a music school. It's a good insurance policy against unemployment, as popular, jazz, and classical traditions often need a bass instrument as a foundation. Granted, there aren't many chances for carrying the melody, but the deep vibrations can be heavenly.

I'm often amazed at how melodic the bass can be.

Then came a ukulele, another shock, it actually sounds nice!

(Disclaimer:obviously not when I try to play them, my youngest daughter is the string musician)

Solo pieces for double bass are rare, but not unknown. Here are some:

Rossini: Péchés de vieillesse (Une Larme; see Henle)
Glière: 2 Morceaux pour contrebasse et piano, Op.9
2 Pièces pour contrebasse et piano, Op.32

I'm not going to give links to youtube performances of these. If people want to hear them, they can figure out how to access them.

I rather like them.

There's also Schubert's Sonata in a-minor for arpeggione and piano, with the double bass filling in for the arpeggione.

I remember a BBC series about twenty years ago that had a theme song feturing the double bass. It may have been about Jeeves and Wooster, with Hugh Laurie as Wooster.