Double Bass Concerto No. 1 in E major, Krebs 172

One of the two double bass concertos by Dittersdorf that form the core of the Classical solo repertoire for the instrument, the Concerto in E major (Krebs 172) is a work of elegant craftsmanship that reveals the double bass as a vehicle for singing, lyrical expression rather than mere accompaniment. Its three-movement structure — Allegro moderato, Adagio, Rondo — requires clean intonation across the full range of the instrument, cantabile phrasing in the slow movement, and nimble technique in the finale. Together with the second concerto, it remains among the most frequently performed works for solo double bass.