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Bass Family Tree
See how you fit in the 'big picture'! See what influences you have had!
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please excuse the diacritic errors
The late Ring Warner adds:

The great Anton Torello, from the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and who taught at the Curtis Institute of Music, should be added to your family... Anton had many good students, but three bassists he had taught produced 100s of fine professional bass players... The great Warren Benfield, Oscar Zimmermann and Roger Scott. All 3 studied at Curtis with Anton Torello. Warren was principal bassist St. Louis, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Chicago Symphony Orchestras.... Oscar remained in the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and taught at the Eastman School of Music for some 40 years.. Roger Scott became Principal bassist with the Philadelphia Orchestra in the late 1940s, and taught at Curtis School of Music... All 3 players, took the teaching and philosphy of Anton Torello, playing musically and "on" the string." They "pumped out 100s of bass players over the period between 1948 and 1990.. That style of playing was hated by the German bow players and teachers. I was a product of that playing, having studied with Benfield from 1957-1963.... Please contact me for more info... These 3 were, without question, among the best players- teachers, and dominated the market for many years... Ring Warner... Principal NW Chamber Orchestra and Pacific NW Ballet.....

and:

My name is Ring Warner.. I studied with Warren from 1957-1963. After graduating from Northwestern University, at age 22, I auditioned and won a spot in the Dallas Symphony. Warren had prepared me so well, that between 1963-1968, I had auditioned and won jobs in Cinncinnati (Max Rudolf) and Detroit(Sexton Ehrling). I did not take those jobs, but became the Principal bassist in Dallas 1967-1968. I then left Dallas and took a professorship in music at the University of Washington,Seattle.. After leaving Seattle, I took a professorship at ASU, and also auditioned for the Phoenix Symphony, with Eduardo Mata... I got that principal gig, too. Making this story short, I am now Principal bassist with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, for many years conducted by Sidney Harth.. I am also Principal bassist in the Pacific NW Ballet... By the way, when I first went to Dallas in the Fall of 1963, my roommate was Bob Zimmermann, the son of Oscar... Bob and I played on the same stand for years and both of us had real respect for eachothers playing and musicianship. In fact, over the years, when Bob and I call each other, we both say that the other was the best stand partner we have ever played with... (funny) but true. I can fill in some blanks if you would like me to help at all. Just call on me.I Iove the history of orchestras, bassplayers, teachers, where they played or taught. Like Gary Karr going to Northwestern University the Fall of 1959, being discovered as a virtioso soloist, and there you have it... East Coast Karr... But that Fall quarter was a blast for many of us that befriended Gary... Let me know if I can fill in any blanks.. Ring Warner  
Thanks for this essential information!:


Let me introduce myself: I am Frano Kakarigi, a bass player from Dubrovnik,
Croatia and currently living and working in Granada (Spain) from 1991, and
before that on Tenerife (1988-1991).
I would like to add a couple of details on your, by the way, very
interesting and well-done list of bassists genealogical tree:
One of most important Frederick Zimmermann's students was Stuart Sankey
(1927-2000), who left behind himself a number of important bassists, Gary
Karr, Edgar Meyer or David Murray, to mention the most prominent ones. (As a
matter of fact, I've pursued my Master's Degree with Stuart in Ann Arbor,
MI, in the period 1987-1988).

Another add is concerning Mr. Tulacek's mention on your tree: he spent
several years in Zagreb, Croatia (playing in the National Opera Orchestra as
a principal), where he eventually left some students, Miroslav(?) Zivanovic
among them. Thus, the Prague school had spread to Croatia as well.
I hope this would be a usefull for you.

Best wishes,
Frano
 Jonathan Cable, principal bass of Les Arts Florissants (Paris) since 1985 adds:
"Your tree is very interesting, thanks for the great work. May I add the following?
Theodor (no e at the end!) Albin Findeisen was my professor's teacher. My professor was Horst Stöhr, I studied with him from 1969-1973 in Hannover! So I guess that means I come down from Stöhr, Findeisen, Simandl, Hrabe, and Hause...
I then studied with Alfred Bürgschwendtner at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, where I got my orchestra and solo diplomas. I'm greatly indebted to both these men, Professors Stöhr and Bürgschwendtner, for all they did for me for so many years.
My career in a nutshell: Musica Antiqua Köln, Collegium Vocale Gent, Les Arts Florissants ... all early music groups. But I'm by no means one-sided in my approach to the bass and it's music, as I've subbed in the Lyon National Opera orchestra as section leader, as well as sub gigs in various symphony orchestras, and even an appearance in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway! "

Thank you very much, Jonathan!
 It is also very important to note Charles Mingus 1922-79
studied with Herman Reinshagen
(this add thanks to John Madere)

 

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