The only characters in this drama are the speaker and the double bass, and the sum of the work is the relationship of the two to each other and to the unseen soprano Sarah within the context of the orchestra.

By stressing the importance of the double bass to the orchestra, the speaker implicitly extols his own significance. Technical aspects are demonstrated with reference to strings, tone, and range. In his sound-proofed room the bass has a penetrative force which elicits the knock of Frau Niemeyer upon the ceiling, an indication that the musician has exceeded the limits of the mezzoforte. Fortissimo is demonstrated to enjoy a range right through Frau Niemeyer's flat, and all the way downstairs to the caretaker, and across to the house next door.

Practically speaking, the bass is a disaster, more an obstacle than a musical instrument. However, the speaker describes it in...